Lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS) is a common health-related problem in women of all ages. Recently, there were reports to demonstrate the association of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and LUTS in women. Moreover, some studies showed that obesity which is a risk factor of MetS may contribute to develop OAB in women. However, a study noted that there was no improvement of OAB symptoms after weigh reduction. Thus, further study is necessary to define the influence of MetS and life style modification such as exercise on OAB. Therefore, we studied the influence of daily exercise on risk factors of MetS and OAB associated LUTS in women who took regular health checkups.

A medical record of 1768 women who visited in the health promotion center was reviewed. They completed the questions about degree of exercise and LUTS from the health questionnaire. The questions about LUTS were composed of 5 inquiries about frequency, urgency, urge incontinence, nocturia and stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Laboratory studies with fasting blood sugar (FBS), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) were done.

Mean age of 1768 women was 43.1 (18 - 87) years old. Mean body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were 21.6 (15.2 – 47.3) cm2/kg and 79.1 (51.7 – 137.8) cm. Mean FBS, HbA1c, TC, TG, HDL and LDL were 90.3±16.6 mg/dL, 5.3±0.5, 186.2±32.6 mg/dL, 77.3±47.9 mg/dL, 59.6±13.3 mg/dL, and 106.5±28.9 mg/dL, respectively. The most common LUTS was frequency (59.1%, 1045/1768) and the next was nocturia (41.9%, 741/17687) and SUI (39.9%, 706/1768). Of the 1768 women, 55 (978/1768) % performed regular exercise and 44.7 (790/1768) % did not perform any exercise. From the women doing regular exercise, 33.6 (329/978) % performed at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity. Women doing regular exercise showed significantly lower LDL compared with women who did not regular exercise. The prevalence of frequency, UI, and SUI was significantly higher in women who did not regular exercise compared to the women doing regular exercise. From the women doing regular exercise, BMI and TG of the women performing at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity were significantly lower than women who did not regular exercise. However, significant difference in the prevalence of LUTS was not noted according to the amount of daily exercise.

Frequency was the most commonly noted LUTS. About half of the women included in this study exercised regularly. Regular exercise could contribute to prevent MetS by decreasing risk factors such as LDL. Moreover, regular exercise prevented the development of OAB symptoms and SUI regardless of the degree of exercise.

Regular exercise regardless of the intensity reduces risk factors of MetS and has a preventive effect on the development of OAB and SUI in women.

Int J Clin Pract 2015;69:199-217.
J Urol 2018;199:215-222.