Association between obesity and hyperuricemia among adults aged 18 years and over in four provinces of China

Background  The prevalence of obesity and hyperuricemia among adult residents is on the rise. However, the studies' results on the correlation between obesity and hyperuricemia are not consistent.

Objective  This study aims to explore the relationships of general obesity and central obesity with hyperuricemia among adult residents in four provinces of China.

Methods  The data were derived from the baseline data of "Community-based Cohort Study on Nervous System Diseases" from 2018 to 2019. A total of 15 918 adult residents aged 18 years and above who had complete demographic characteristics, physical measurements, and laboratory test data were selected as study subjects. General obesity (overweight and obesity) was measured by body mass index (BMI), and central obesity by waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio. The serum uric acid level and prevalence of hyperuricemia were analyzed among participants with different characteristics. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the correlations of general obesity and central obesity with hyperuricemia.

Results  The average serum uric acid levels of male and female adults aged 18 years and over in the four provinces of China were 346.3 μmol·L^-1 and 291.3 μmol·L^-1, respectively, and the weighted prevalence rates of hyperuricemia were 21.7% and 14.4%. The serum uric acid levels and prevalence rates of the overweight, obese, and central obesity groups were higher than those of the normal population (P < 0.001), and the BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio of the hyperuricemia group were higher than those of the non-hyperuricemia group (P < 0.001). The results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that compared with the normal BMI group, the OR values of hyperuricemia in overweight and obese men were 1.86 (95% CI: 1.62-2.13) and 2.98 (95% CI: 2.49-3.56), respectively, and the OR values of hyperuricemia in overweight and obese women were 1.58 (95%CI: 1.38-1.80) and 2.51 (95% CI: 2.15-2.93), respectively. Compared with the normal waist circumference group, the OR values of hyperuricemia in male and female adults with high waist circumferences (central obesity) were 1.80 (95% CI: 1.58-2.05) and 1.82 (95% CI: 1.61-2.07), respectively. Compared with the normal waist-to-hip ratio group, the OR values of hyperuricemia in male and female adults with high waist-to-hip ratios (central obesity) were 1.65 (95% CI: 1.46-1.87) and 1.78 (95% CI: 1.56-2.04), respectively.

Conclusion  General obesity and central obesity are associated with the prevalence of hyperuricemia.