Metabolic Syndrome and Urological Health: Investigating the Psychosocial Influence of Depression, Obesity, and Hypertension on Erectile Dysfunction, Nephrolithiasis, and Lower Urinary Tract Indicators
1Dr Usman Khan, 2Abdullah Masood, 3Meesam Ali, 4Jibran Asif, 4Umair Amjad, 6Dr Muhammad Sami Bilal
1Sir Gangaran Hospital Lahore. 2MBBS, MCPS, Associate Professor Community Medicine, Shahida Islam Medical and Dental College, Lodhran. 3Agha Khan Hospital Karachi. 4PIMS Islamabad. 5Assistant Professor, College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPSP) Pakistan
Vol: 15/04
Received: June 02, 2025 Accepted: November 15, 2025 Published: December 29, 2025
ABSTRACT:
Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a multifactorial disorder characterized by central obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and impaired glucose metabolism, and it is increasingly recognized as a major contributor to both cardiovascular and urological diseases. In addition to its metabolic consequences, MetS is associated with significant psychological distress, including depression and anxiety, which may further exacerbate urological dysfunction. Emerging evidence suggests that the interaction between metabolic abnormalities and psychosocial factors contributes to the development of erectile dysfunction (ED), nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). This study aimed to investigate the psychosocial impact of metabolic syndrome on urological health by examining the associations between depression, obesity, hypertension, and common urological disorders. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 320 adult patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome who attended outpatient internal medicine and urology clinics. Sociodemographic information, clinical characteristics, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, lipid profiles, and waist circumference were recorded. The mean age of participants was 51.6 ± 9.4 years, and 58.4% were male. Depression was identified in 38.1% of participants, obesity in 67.8%, and hypertension in 72.5%. Erectile dysfunction was present in 54.3% of male participants, lower urinary tract symptoms in 48.7%, and nephrolithiasis in 26.9% of the study population. Patients with moderate-to-severe depression demonstrated significantly higher rates of erectile dysfunction and LUTS compared with those without depressive symptoms (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome exerts a substantial psychosocial and physiological impact on urological health. Depression, obesity, and hypertension are significantly associated with an increased prevalence of erectile dysfunction, nephrolithiasis, and lower urinary tract symptoms among patients with metabolic syndrome. Keywords: Metabolic syndrome; Depression; Obesity; Hypertension; Erectile dysfunction; Nephrolithiasis; Lower urinary tract symptoms; Psychosocial health.