A Potential Protective Effect of Alcohol Consumption in Male Genital Lichen Sclerosus: A Case-Control Study

Table 1

Sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics, medical history, and presenting symptoms of study participants (N = 94).

Variables	Controls n = 47	LSc n = 47	values
Age (mean ± SD)	45.70 ± 20.25	49.81 ± 22.91	0.360
BMI (mean ± SD)	25.55 ± 3.57	26.00 ± 2.72	0.494
Presenting symptom			0.260
Phimosis	33 (70.2%)	23 (48.9%)
Dyspareunia	3 (6.4%)	5 (10.6%)
Recurrent infections	8 (17.0%)	10 (21.3%)
Dysuria	3 (6.4%)	6 (12.8%)
Accidental finding	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.1%)
White lesions	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.3%)
Smoking status			0.911
Nonsmoker	23 (48.9%)	21 (44.7%)
Current smoker	17 (36.2%)	18 (38.3%)
Previous smoker	7 (14.9%)	8 (17.0%)
Alcohol use			0.027
No	10 (21.3%)	20 (42.6%)
Low-moderate risk	37 (78.8%)	27 (57.4%)
High-addicted	0 (0%)	0 (0%)
Allergies			1.000
No	44 (93.6%)	45 (95.7%)
Yes	3 (6.4%)	2 (4.3%)
Diabetes			0.021
No	42 (89.4%)	33 (70.2%)
Yes	5 (10.6%)	14 (29.8%)
Hypertension			0.004
No	39 (83.0%)	26 (55.3%)
Yes	8 (17.0%)	21 (44.7%)
Penile trauma			0.495
No	47 (100.0%)	45 (95.7%)
Yes	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.3%)
Family history of LSc			0.435
No	45 (95.7%)	42 (89.4%)
Yes	2 (4.3%)	5 (10.6%)

BMI = body mass index. SD = standard deviation. LSc = lichen sclerosus. Significant p values of p < 0.05 are shown in bold.