Important to address metabolic syndrome linked to increase urinary problem in men

In raising awareness about Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) during this Movember, Sunway Medical Centre Velocity (SMCV) is highlighting the associated risks, including urinary problems and chronic kidney disease, which impact a significant portion of the population while emphasising the need for proactive health management.

Movember, a global campaign that combines "moustache" and "November," encourages men worldwide to grow moustaches and participate in activities throughout the month to raise awareness about men's health issues.

While Movember is traditionally associated with prostate cancer and mental health, SMCV emphasised that year-round conditions like MetS can have a profound impact on men's health and longevity.

"By 2040, Malaysia's demographic will include an almost equal share of young (18.6 per cent) and older populations (14.5 per cent), with the elderly population surpassing six million - a key milestone in the country's transition to an ageing society," SMCV stated in a release yesterday.

As this demographic shift unfolds, it said, managing MetS in men will be the key to promoting healthy ageing and supporting men's resilience throughout life's stages.

SMCV Consultant Nephrologist and Internal Medicine Physician Dr Radzi Rodzlan explained that MetS is characterised by at least three of the five risk factors, namely central obesity, high serum triglycerides (having too many fats in your blood), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) or when a person does not have enough "good cholesterol" in their blood, raised blood pressure and raised fasting blood sugar levels.

He said MetS affects both men and women with studies showing that the overall prevalence of MetS among adults in Malaysia ranges between 25 to 40 per cent.

Risk factors most closely tied to MetS include age as the likelihood increases with age, and a personal or family history of diabetes, he noted.

Other contributing risk factors include poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, history of heavy drinking, stress, menopause and a high-fat diet, he said, adding that having MetS increases the risk of getting Type 2 diabetes, heart and blood vessel disease and potentially leading to life-threatening heart attack or stroke.

Dr Radzi also said MetS could result in significant changes to renal structure and function, including decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) which is a calculation to measure how well a person's kidneys are working in filtering out waste and extra fluid from their blood, and increased urinary microalbumin that indicated there is protein leakage from the kidneys.

He said such alterations in kidney function could lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD), which may progress to severe health issues, including end-stage renal disease that requires dialysis or kidney transplantation.

"Early symptoms and signs of kidney problems associated with MetS can include leg swelling, frothy urine and abnormality in blood and urine test results.

"Regular health screenings are essential for early detection, which is vital to avoid further complications and progression of CKD," he added.

Meanwhile, SMCV Consultant Urologist and Robotic Surgeon Datuk Dr Selvalingam Sothilingam said that MetS is also linked to several urological conditions including kidney stones, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or enlarged prostate, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), erectile dysfunction, male infertility, and prostate cancer.

"There has been increasing evidence that men with MetS are at an increased risk of experiencing moderate to severe urinary symptoms as they age," he added.

Lower urinary tract symptoms, collectively referred to as LUTS, are frequently caused by BPH, he said, adding that the symptoms include delay in initiating voiding (hesitancy), poor urinary flow, incomplete bladder emptying, urinary urgency or frequent urination and disturbed sleep due to avoiding (nocturia).

Therefore, he advised men experiencing these urinary symptoms to seek medical attention as soon as possible, especially those with elevated Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels.

"If left untreated, BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) can lead to complications such as urinary tract infection, blood in the urine, acute urinary obstruction, urinary incontinence, renal impairment, bed wetting and in severe cases of BPH it may obstruct the kidney leading to kidney swelling (hydronephrosis) and if left untreated may result in kidney failure," he said.

Both consultants advocate for lifestyle changes, including regular exercise to combat insulin resistance and adopting a heart-healthy diet by avoiding excessive amounts of carbohydrates that stimulate excess insulin production.

These proactive measures can significantly improve overall health, and reduce the risk of developing MetS and its progression to urinary and kidney problems.

-- BERNAMA