Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The pathogenesis of overactive bladder (OAB) is associated with inflammation, yet specific indicators remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score-a composite marker of inflammation and nutritional status-and the risk of OAB in a nationally representative adult population in the United States. METHOD: We analyzed data from 24,939 participants in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2005 and 2016. Participants were categorized into quartiles based on HALP scores. Weighted multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the association between HALP scores and the risk of OAB, adjusting for relevant covariates. Additionally, smooth curve fitting was performed to assess nonlinear relationships. RESULT: After adjusting for confounders, higher HALP scores were significantly associated with a lower risk of OAB (odds ratio [OR] 0.965, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.951-0.980). Participants in the highest HALP quartile had a 20 % lower likelihood of OAB compared to those in the lowest quartile (OR 0.800, 95 % CI: 0.729-0.878). A nonlinear inverse relationship was observed between HALP score and OAB risk. CONCLUSION: In this large, population-based study, higher HALP scores were independently associated with a lower risk of OAB among U.S. adults. These findings suggest that the HALP score may serve as a useful marker in the prediction and early identification of individuals at risk for OAB.