Relationship between oxidative stress and lower urinary tract symptoms: results from a community health survey in Japan

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between oxidative stress and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in a community-dwelling population.

Materials and methods: The cross-sectional study included 1 113 people who participated in the Iwaki Health Promotion Project of 2015 in Hirosaki, Japan. LUTS were assessed using structured questionnaires, including the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS). IPSS > 7, OABSS > 5, nocturia score > 1, or urge incontinence score > 1 were defined as moderate to severe symptoms. 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) were measured by urine analysis and skin autofluorescence, respectively. The relationship between oxidative stress and LUTS was investigated using logistic regression analyses.

Results: This study included 431 men and 682 women. AGEs and 8-OHdG levels were significantly higher in severe forms of LUTS. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that AGE levels were significantly associated with a higher frequency of nocturia but were not associated with IPSS, OABSS or urge incontinence. No significant association was observed between LUTS and 8-OHdG levels.

Conclusions: We observed a significant association between AGE levels and nocturia score > 1. Further research is necessary to clarify a possible causal relationship between oxidative stress and nocturia.

Keywords: 8-OHdG; advanced glycation end product; lower urinary tract symptoms; nocturia; overactive bladder symptom score; oxidative stress.