To study, in a large prospective cohort study of 2000 Chinese men 65 to 92 years of age in Hong Kong, the role of lifestyle and medical risk factors for moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Previous epidemiologic studies evaluating the risk factors for LUTS were mainly conducted in non-Chinese populations.

After excluding men with prostate or bladder cancer or surgery and those who took alpha-blockers and antiandrogens, 1739 subjects provided responses to a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and physical examination.

A clustered case-control analysis was performed, comparing subjects with moderate to severe LUTS with those with mild or no LUTS. A total of 38.2% of subjects had moderate to severe LUTS. On multiple logistic regression analysis, a history of heart disease was independently associated with an increased risk of moderate to severe LUTS (odds ratio 1.50, 95% confidence interval 1.13 to 1.98). Physical activity was independently associated with reduced risk of moderate to severe LUTS (odds ratio 0.66, 95% confidence interval 0.48 to 0.90). A mild increase in the body mass index (23 to 24.9 kg/m²) was associated with a reduced risk of LUTS (odds ratio 0.72, 95% confidence interval 0.56 to 0.93).

These results have shown that LUTS are a significant health problem in Chinese men and that, similar to results from previous studies, LUTS are associated with medical and lifestyle factors in the Chinese.