Is there any association between obesity and benign prostatic hyperplasia?

Investigating the link between benign prostatic hypertrophy, BMI and type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIMS

To investigate the link between benign prostatic hypertrophy, BMI and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was the retrospective study conducted at the urology clinic of NCRHA and SWRHA, in Trinidad. Data was obtained from 85 patients with high PSA values (>4.0ng/mL). The data collected were age, ethnicity, weight, height, lifestyle and their most recent blood sugar levels were recorded. Ultrasound reports of patients diagnosed with BPH were also analyzed to gather data on whether their hyperplasia was benign or malignant.

RESULTS

The majority of the sample population was of Afro-Trinidadian descent (41) followed by East Indian descent (26) and then of mixed ethnicity (18). Individuals in the sample population with a normal BMI had a mean PSA value of 23.66ng/mL, while those with a BMI in the overweight range had a mean PSA value of 28.1ng/mL, and those with a BMI in the obese range had a mean PSA value of 18.5ng/mL. There were no statistically significant differences in the mean values of PSA levels between diabetics and non-diabetics, between the 3 major ethnic groups in our sample population and between the 3 different groupings based on BMI ranges. However it was found that the average mean age of patients of East Indian descent (62.96±2.23) was significantly lower than that of patients of African descent (70.15±2.02).

CONCLUSIONS

This study did not show any significant differences in the mean values of PSA levels between diabetics and non-diabetics, between the 3 different groupings based on BMI ranges.