Low lean mass is associated with lower urinary tract symptoms in US men from the 2005–2006 national health and nutrition examination survey dataset

We investigated the relationship between low lean mass (LLM) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) using the 2005–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset. We enrolled 959 men with an average age of 52.08 ± 7.91 years and performed weighted multiple regression analysis to determine the independent relationship between exposure variables (LLM, alternate LLM) and outcomes variables (urinary hesitancy, incomplete emptying, urinary frequency, nocturia, daytime LUTS, clinical LUTS) after adjusting for confounding factors. The prevalence of urinary hesitancy (OR = 7.76, P < 0.0001), incomplete emptying (OR = 2.49, P = 0.0070), urinary frequency (OR = 3.28, P < 0.0001), daytime LUTS (OR = 3.88, P < 0.0001) and clinical LUTS (OR = 8.11, P < 0.0001) was significantly higher among men with LLM compared to men without LLM. Moreover, alternate LLM (ALLM) was positively associated with urinary hesitancy (OR = 17.97, P < 0.0001), incomplete emptying (OR = 4.68, P = 0.0003), daytime LUTS (OR = 2.47, P = 0.0136) and clinical LUTS (OR = 12.18, P < 0.0001). These findings demonstrate that both LLM and ALLM were associated with a higher risk of LUTS in men aged ≥ 40 years, which suggested that early management and treatment of lean mass loss may improve or alleviate LUTS.