Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Men Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus: A Case-control Study

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) remains a global public health challenge, affecting populations worldwide.By the end of 2022, an estimated 39.0 million individuals were living with HIV, with approximately 1.3 million new infections reported that year.The widespread availability of contemporary antiretroviral therapy (ART) has significantly improved life expectancy among people living with HIV, leading to an increased prevalence of age-related comorbidities.Existing literature indicates that HIV-negative individuals have a lower risk of developing non-AIDS-related complications, including bone, cardiovascular, and renal diseases, compared to those living with HIV.While LUTS are prevalent in the general aging male population, research specifically examining their occurrence among males living with HIV (MLWH) is scarce.Addressing this gap is particularly important, as MLWH may be exposed to unique risk factors, such as chronic immune activation, systemic inflammation, and potential adverse effects of long-term ART, which could influence the development and progression of LUTS compared to HIV-negative individuals.The prevalence of all types of LUTS was higher among MLWH compared to HIV-negative controls.Statistically significant differences were noted for hesitancy, intermittency, reduced urinary flow rate, and sensation of post-void residual urine.The sensation of post-void residual urine was the most frequently reported LUTS among MLWH.The prevalence of moderate to severe LUTS was significantly higher in MLWH compared to HIV-negative controls.A significantly higher proportion of MLWH had OAB V8 scores of 11 compared to HIV-negative controls, indicating an increased likelihood of OAB in MLWH.All MLWH in our study were receiving ART, providing contemporary insights into the relationship between HIV and LUTS in the modern treatment era.Bictegravir-based ART was the most commonly used regimen among MLWH.No statistically significant differences were observed in LUTS prevalence across ART regimen subgroups.