Vascular Aging and Bladder Health: Associations Between Peripheral Arterial Disease and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Mid-Life Women from CARDIA-PLUS
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Objectives: To describe associations between peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and bladder health (BH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) among a subset of women in the Coronary Artery Risk Development In Young Adults (CARDIA) study. Methods: Women from CARDIA at Birmingham, AL and Minneapolis, MN were eligible if they completed a questionnaire about bladder symptoms in 2022-23, an ancillary study post-year 35 called CARDIA-PLUS, including the global BH scale (possible range, 0-100) and the LURN-SI 10 (0-38) and the AUASI (0-35). A subset (n=216) completed an inperson examination, including the ankle brachial index (ABI) procedure (n=194). ABI scores were clinically categorized as normal (1.00-1.40), borderline abnormal (0.91-0.99), and abnormal (≤0.90; evidence of PAD). Continuous BH and LUTS variables were regressed on ABI category, adjusting for sociodemographics, obstetric/gynecologic variables, co-morbidities, and physical activity. Key Results: Among women who completed BH/LUTS questionnaires and the ABI (n=192), the mean age was 63±4 years and racial composition was 47% Black and 53% White. ABI results were normal (74%), borderline abnormal (20%), and abnormal (6%). After adjusting for covariates, women with abnormal ABI scores had higher LURN-SI scores (4.1 points, 95% CI 0.7, 7.5) and did not have higher AUASI scores (1.4 points, 95% CI -3.1, 5.7) or lower BH scores (-9.6 points, 95% CI -24.0, 4.9) compared to women with normal ABI scores. Borderline abnormal ABI was not associated with BH or LUTS. Discussion/Conclusion: In this cohort, PAD was associated with greater LUTS severity. PAD and LUTS may share common etiologies and risk factors that need additional research.
Source: medRxiv
Language: English
Subfield: Urology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: G1000644980, G1586844134, G1732223801, G1879745488, G2125316032, G2276165004, G3017670077, G30286026, G3114895611, G3931708253, G5240659570, G5348427392, G5435011327, CARDIA-PLUS: A Life Course Investigation of Biopsychosocial Pathways to Bladder Health and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, G5654020273, G5671222836, G662645278, G674475515, G7295477853, G7328697105, G7379922140, G7422092500, G7842515143, G7974859583, G8478215588, Research and Mentoring Program in Improving Access to Incontinence Care for Older Adults
OpenAlex ID: W7220695946