Relationship between varicocele and anthropometric indices in infertile population.

Objective: To evaluate relationship between varicocele and anthropometric indexes in patients presenting with infertility. Methods: 600 male patients presenting with infertility were included in this study. The presence and degree of varicocele were evaluated by physical examination. Anthropometric index parameters were compared in terms of presence of varicocele and grade. The anthropometric indexes including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were recorded. Results: A total of 210 (35%) patients had varicocele. The mean of BMI, WC and WHR of those without varicocele was 30.5 ± 6.4 kg/cm2, 86.40 ± 9.97 cm and 0.89 ± 0.05, respectively. The mean of BMI, WC and WHR with varicocele was 24.7 ± 5.2 kg/cm2, 81.19 ± 9.01 cm and 0.82 ± 0.05 respectively (p<0.001). The mean value of each anthropometric index had a significantly statistical correlation with each grade varicocele (p<0.001). In the normal weight group (BMI less than 25) 82 of 180 patients (45%) had varicoceles. In the overweight group (BMI 25 to less than 30) 94 of 266 patients (34%) had varicoceles. In the obese group (BMI 30 or greater) 34 of 154 patients (21%) had varicoceles (p<0.001). Prevalence of varicocele decreased with increasing body mass index for all varicocele grades (p<0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of varicocele decreases with increasing body mass index. The present data support the explanation that obesity may result in a decreased nutcracker effect, which accounts for prevention of the renal vein compression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]