Cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet (CHHF) has been reported to be a protective or predisposing factors for many diseases; however, the relationship between CHHF and male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between CHHF and LUTS among young men of Southeast Asian origin.

Taiwanese men aged 20–40 years were invited to participate in this cross-sectional study via an online questionnaire comprising general demographic information, comorbidities, subjective thermal sensations of their hands and feet in the past 6 months, and International Prostatic Symptoms Score (IPSS). Participants who reported cold sensation of both their hands and feet were classified to have CHHF, while those with IPSS score ≥ 8 were considered to have moderate to severe LUTS. Pearson’s chi-square test or Student's t-test were used to compare differences between participants with and without CHHF. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate predictors of moderate to severe male LUTS in young Taiwanese men.

Among the 2,894 participants, 712 (24.6%) and 796 (27.5%) were classified as having moderate to severe male LUTS and CHHF, respectively. Men with CHHF were significantly younger, with lower body mass index (BMI) and higher total IPSS scores (all p < 0.001). Participants with CHHF had lower prevalence of diabetes mellitus (1.0% versus 2.5%, p = 0.011) but higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders (PD, 9.0% versus 5.4%, p < 0.001), insomnia (11.4% versus 5.4%, p < 0.001), and smoking (21.6% versus 17.2%, p = 0.006). Age ≥ 30 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.478, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.227 - 1.780, p < 0.001), presence of PD (OR 1.502, 95% CI 1.091 - 2.067, p = 0.013), insomnia (OR 1.998, 95% CI 1.491 - 2.677, p < 0.001), smoking history (OR 1.272, 95% CI 1.030 - 1.571, p = 0.025), and CHHF (OR 2.023, 95% CI 1.690 - 2.422, p < 0.001) were significantly correlated with moderate to severe male LUTS in the univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis including age ≥ 30 years, obesity, comorbidities, smoking history, and regular exercise habits, CHHF remained an independent predictor of moderate to severe male LUTS in young Taiwanese men (OR 2.042, 95% CI 1.696 – 2.458; p < 0.001), as well as age ≥ 30 years (OR 1.546, 95% CI 1.276 - 1.873, p < 0.001) and insomnia (OR 1.669, 95% CI 1.217 - 2.290, p = 0.001).

The subjective feelings of cold sensation in hands and feet are associated with moderate to severe LUTS in Taiwanese young males after adjustment of age, obesity, comorbidities, smoking history and exercise habits.

CHHF affects more than one-fourth of the young Taiwanese men, and is an independent predictor of moderate to severe male LUTS. Whether the improvement of CHHF could improve LUTS in young males warrant further evaluation.

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Bae, K.H., et al., The association between cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet and chronic disease: results of a multicentre study. BMC Complement Altern Med, 2018. 18(1): p. 40.