Men's health in South Korea

A community-based study on lower urinary tract symptoms in Malaysian males aged 40 years and above

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) commonly affecting ageing men and is thought to be linked with other comorbidities and unhealthy lifestyles. This study was performed to report the prevalence of LUTS and its association with quality of life (QOL) in urination and other related factors. The study was part of the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019, a cross-sectional community-based survey in Malaysia. Validated self-administered bilingual International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) was used to assess the LUTS. Other comorbidities and unhealthy lifestyles were recorded using face-to-face interview and in-situ measurements such as anthropometry assessment and blood measurement. There were a total of 2251 respondents. 16.3% of the respondents had clinically significant LUTS (IPSS ≥ 8). LUTS was found to be significantly associated with QOL, age and inactive physical activities. Nocturia was the most prevalent and bothersome symptom. LUTS is a common condition and adversely affect QOL. Ageing and physically inactive males are associated with the development of LUTS. It is recommended to increase public awareness of the condition and availability of treatment options for LUTS. Any upcoming survey should have a more in-depth investigation such as clinical profiling of subjects.

Therapeutic Effects of Prolonged Release Melatonin (Circadin®) in Patients with Overactive Bladder and Chronic Insomnia in More Than 55 Years Old

Objectives Bladder storage symptoms including nocturia is the most common cause of sleep disturbance in all age groups. Sleep disturbance is also a main cause of nocturia so that sleep recovery can clinically improve nocturia. Melatonin has main action to induce sleep and additional effects of smooth muscle relaxation, free radical scavenging, anti-inflammation, et cetera. This study was evaluated the improvement of sleep quality after administrating prolonged-release melatonin in elderly patients with overactive bladder and chronic insomnia. Methods This clinical trial was performed with a randomized single open study. Thirty-seven patients with overactive bladder and chronic insomnia were initially enrolled in this study. After 4 or 12 weeks treating with 2 mg of prolonged-release melatonin, clinical outcomes were evaluated with OABSS, IPSS, PSQI and WHO 5 well-being index. Results Of the 37 patients, 34 (91.9%) were included in the ITT group and 26 (76.5%) in the PP group. In the primary outcome of PP group, significant improvements were observed in total OABSS and nocturia frequencies at 12 weeks, respectively. Secondary outcome measurement including in voiding, storage symptoms, and total IPSS scores showed the improvement at 4 and 12 weeks and in total and sleep quality PSQI scores at 12 weeks, and in quality of life scores of the WHO 5 well-being index at 12 weeks. Only one (3.8%) adverse event was observed. Conclusions These results suggest clearly that prolonged-release melatonin in elderly patients with overactive bladder and chronic insomnia has the potential to control concomitant voiding and sleep difficulty.

Waist circumference and risk of lower urinary tract symptoms: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Epidemiological studies have reported conflicting results concerning the role of central obesity in lower urinary tract symptoms. We performed a meta-analysis to determine whether larger waist circumference (WC) is a predicted signal for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUT). Data resource: Eligible studies were retrieved by searching PubMed, Web of science, and the Cochrane Library database up to January 2014.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Prospective and retrospective cohort, case-controlled trials and observational studies.

DATA EXTRACTION

Data were extracted and analyzed using random effect models to reveal an array of risk factors. Dose-response meta-analysis was performed for studies reporting categorical risk estimates at multiple exposure levels. Study heterogeneity and publication biases were assessed.

DATA SYNTHESIS

A total of 12 studies met the inclusion criteria of the meta-analysis. A positive association with waist circumference (WC) was observed between WC and LUTS at an odds ratio of 1.49, (95% confidence intervals 1.34-1.64). In subgroup analysis, WC exhibited a positive dose-dependent relationship with LUTS in mostly study design, region and primary outcomes.

LIMITATION

Potential biases from preferential publication and selective reporting.

CONCLUSION

Large WC is associated with increased risk of LUTS. Further studies are needed to confirm this finding and to define related biological mechanisms.

How Serious Is Erectile Dysfunction in Men's Lives? Comparative Data From Korean Adults

Purpose

Whereas sexual function has long been assumed to be an important component of adult men's lives, the impact of sexual dysfunction has not been estimated in parallel to other modern disease entities. We compared the seriousness of erectile dysfunction (ED) with that of other diseases by use of self-administered questionnaires.

Materials and Methods

Between January 2012 and July 2012, 434 healthy male volunteers (group 1) and 263 ED patients (group 2) were enrolled. The questionnaire consisted of the following: "If you must undergo only one disease in all your life, which disease could you select among these items or ED?" The comparative disease entities included hypertension, diabetes mellitus (oral hypoglycemic agent/insulin injection), hemodialysis, myocardial infarction, herpes zoster, chronic sinusitis, chronic otitis media, gastric cancer (early/late), lung cancer (early/late), liver cancer (early/late), and dementia.

Results

Group 1 recognized ED as being a more serious disease than hypertension, diabetes mellitus (oral hypoglycemic agent), herpes zoster, chronic sinusitis, and chronic otitis media. In comparison, group 2 recognized ED as being a more serious condition than diabetes mellitus (insulin injection) and dementia (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). In particular, ED was deemed to be more serious than hemodialysis, gastric cancer (early), lung cancer (early), and liver cancer (early) by men in group 2 in their 30s to 40s, and these results were statistically significant compared with the same age subgroups in group 1 (p<0.001, p<0.007, p<0.02, and p<0.007, respectively).

Conclusions

In contrast with their healthy counterparts, Korean men with ED recognized ED as being as serious as hemodialysis, dementia, and early stage cancer, which reflects the severe bother of ED in Korean patients.

Public health strategies to address Asian men's health needs

Men's health discourse has been around for more than 2 decades. The higher mortality rates and the shorter life expectancy in Asian men compared with their women counterparts show the disadvantaged status of men's health. Thus, discussions on men's health should address their health needs and not be confined to sex-specific male urology and reproductive health. In Asia, assessing men's health needs is challenging because of the vast differences in the socioeconomic status and the diverse culture among its member countries. Although, the epidemiology of men's health provides the focus for what to address in improving men's health, having an optimal strategy requires the understanding of men's health-seeking behaviors and the social determinants surrounding them. Thus, public health approaches addressing health behaviors and health promotion in the society should be one of the keys in improving men's health status. Locally relevant information is needed to inform effective public health approaches.