Title: Associations between Urinary Concentrations of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Overactive Bladder (OAB) in United States Adults: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2016

Abstract

Introduction: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of chemicals that can induce oxidative stress and related cytotoxicity. Whether urinary concentrations of PAHs have effects on Overactive Bladder (OAB) in the general population is still unclear. This study investigated the associations between urinary PAHs and OAB. Methods: 7146 adults aged over 20 who participated in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2016 were studied. The impact of the six PAHs on overactive bladder (OAB) was evaluated by multivariate logistic regression, and percent changes related to different quartiles of those six PAHs levels were calculated. Confounders including age, logarithmic urinary creatinine, gender, race, body mass index (BMI), educational level, marriage, poverty income ratio, diabetes, hypertension and metabolic syndrome were controlled. Results: There is a significant positive correlation between urinary concentrations of the six PAHs we include in the study and the occurrence of OAB. Furthermore, individuals with higher PAH levels also reported a more severe OAB symptom score (OABSS). Conclusions: Our findings revealed that adult men in US with higher urinary PAHs had a higher risk of overactive bladder incidence. These findings suggest the importance of strong environmental regulation of PAHs to protect population health. However, the underlying mechanisms still need further exploration.