Predictors of hyperuricaemia among obese adults in Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background: Hyperuricaemia is a known risk factor for cardiovascular, metabolic and kidney diseases. However, the extent to which serum uric acid contributes to these conditions among obese Africans is limited because it is difficult to assess hyperuricaemia from large population surveys.  We aimed to determine the predictors of hyperuricaemia using some obesity parameters.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 112 obese male and female adults recruited via simple random sampling. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained. Questionnaires were administered, anthropometry measurements taken, then 5mls of venous blood was collected for the determination of serum uric acid concentration using enzymatic colorimetric method. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS and p<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

Results: Serum uric acid level (sUA) of the males (7.3±1.11mg/dl) was higher than the females (5.9±1.6mg/dl) (p=0.0001). Obese subjects had higher sUA levels (6.2±1.6mg/dl) than normal weight controls 5.1±1.1mg/dl (p<0.0001). Prevalence of hyperuricaemia among the obese subjects was 42% (47/112), with 39.8% (35/88) among the females and 50% (12/24) among the males. There was significant positive correlation between sUA and body mass index (BMI) r=0.305, p=0.001*, waist circumference (WC) r=0.392, p=<0.001* and waist-to-hip circumference-ratio (WHR) r=0.276, p=0.004*. Predictors of hyperuricaemia included WC (OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.07-1.65; p=0.01*), but not BMI nor WHR (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Waist circumference was the only obesity parameter that could predict hyperuricaemia among obese adults, which can be easily determined in large population surveys in sub-Saharan Africa, and used to assess risk for several diseases.