The Relationship between the Presence of an Earlobe Crease and Overactive Bladder: A Cross-Sectional Case-Controlled Study

Abstract

Background and Objectives: To examine the relationship between the presence of earlobe crease (EC) and overactive bladder (OAB). Materials and Methods: The earlobes of the participants were examined macroscopically. ECs were further divided into four groups (grades 0–3) according to severity. Subjective symptoms were assessed using the OAB symptom score (OABSS), and objective findings were assessed using uroflowmetry. The relationship between these findings and the presence or absence and severity of EC was also examined. A score of ≥2 points on OABSS question 3 (urinary urgency), with a total score of ≥3 points, indicated OAB. Results: We analyzed 246 participants, including 120 (48.8%) in the EC group and 126 (51.2%) in the non-EC (N-EC) group. On the OABSS, the EC group scored higher than the N-EC group for all questions and for the total score. The total OABSS of EC grade 3 was the highest of all groups. A total of 115 (95.8%) patients in the EC group (100% in grade 3) and 69 (54.8%) in the N-EC group met the OAB criteria (p p p = 0.029). Multivariate analysis revealed that EC was an independent risk factor for OAB (odds ratio, 8.15; 95% confidence interval, 2.84–24.75; p Conclusions: The presence of an earlobe crease may be a predictive marker for OAB.

Keywords

• overactive bladder
• earlobe crease
• lower urinary tract symptom