Common Male Condition Linked to CVD, Metabolic Disorders

Men with varicoceles, or veins in the scrotum, have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and metabolic disorders, including diabetes, according to a recent study.

For their study, the researchers identified 4459 men with varicoceles and 100,066 men without varicoceles, including men who underwent infertility testing and vasectomy, using the Truven Health MarketScan claims database from 2001 to 2009. Men with varicoceles were classified as asymptomatic (n=1017) or symptomatic (n=3442) and metabolic and cardiovascular comorbidities were identified. The researchers used Cox regression to determine the incidence of metabolic disease and CVD among men with and without varicoceles.
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Overall, the researchers found that men with varicoceles had a higher incidence of CVD compared with men who underwent infertility testing (hazard ratio [HR] 1.22, 95% CI: 1.03-1.45) and those who underwent vasectomy (HR 1.32, 95% CI: 1.13-1.54). Likewise, those with varicoceles had a higher risk for diabetes (HR 1.73, 95% CI: 1.37-2.18) and hyperlipidemia (HR 1.25, 95% CI: 1.03-1.28) compared with those who underwent vasectomy.

While men with symptomatic varicoceles had a higher risk for CVD, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia after being diagnosed with the disorder, those with asymptomatic varicoceles did not have an increased risk for these diseases.

“Given the prevalence of varicoceles, further research is needed to understand the implications of a varicocele to a man’s overall health,” the researchers concluded.

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Wang NN, Dallas K, Li S, Baker L, Eisenberg ML. The association between varicocoeles and vascular disease: an analysis of U.S. claims data [December 1, 2017]. Andrology. doi:10.1111/andr.12437.