Associations between modest weight changes and onset and progression of lower urinary tract symptoms in two population-based cohorts.

Objectives: To conduct a study to determine whether weight changes were associated with the risk of developing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Obesity has been associated with LUTS in aging men.

Methods: The study population consisted of men participating in the Olmsted County Study of Urinary Symptoms and Health Status among Men and the Flint Men's Health Study. Weight loss and weight gain were defined as a change of ≥5% of the baseline weight. LUTS progression was measured by calculating the American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUASI) score slopes for 4 years of follow-up in both cohorts. Additional Cox proportional hazard models were constructed to determine whether the weight changes were associated with the later development of moderate-to-severe symptoms or with a ≥4-point increase in the AUASI score (Olmsted County Study of Urinary Symptoms and Health Status among Men cohort only).

Results: Weight changes were not associated with LUTS progression (all P > .05). Additionally, the rate at which the AUASI scores changed did not vary by the weight change. Finally, in the Olmsted County Study of Urinary Symptoms and Health Status among Men cohort, the weight changes were not associated with risk of having a moderate-to-severe AUASI score or a ≥4-point increase in the AUASI score.

Conclusions: Modest weight loss might not prevent the onset or progression of LUTS. However, modest weight gain also might not contribute to changes in LUTS.