The Relationship Between Serum Uric Acid and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Iranian Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Context: There has been an increasing interest in epidemiological and clinical studies concerning the role of uric acid in cardiometabolic diseases, especially in children and adolescents. However, these potential relationships remain undiscovered; accordingly, its pathophysiological mechanisms remain unrecognized. This study aimed to assess the potential association between Serum Uric Acid (SUA) levels and cardiometabolic risk factors in a population-based sample of Iranian children and adolescents. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the potential association between Serum Uric Acid (SUA) levels and cardiometabolic risk factors in a population-based sample of Iranian children and adolescents. Methods: The data of 595 individuals aged 7-18 years were assessed in this research. Anthropometric measurements and laboratory tests were performed according to standardized protocols. Results: The Mean±SD age of the 595 explored students was 12.39±3.07 years. The overall Mean±SD SUA level of the study participants was measured as 4.22±1.13 mg/dL, with significant gender-wise differences (4.04±0.97 mg/dL vs 4.38±1.24 mg/dL, respectively; P<0.05). The prevalence of hyperuricemia based on the 90th percentile of SUA levels was equal to 10.6%. There was a positive association between SUA levels and abdominal obesity (waist circumference: ≥90th percentile) [Odds Ratio (OR): 1.54; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.26 to 1.86] and general obesity [gender-specific Body Mass Index (BMI) for >95th percentile] (OR: 2.32; 95% CI: 1.74 to 3.11). Conclusions: This study suggested BMI and waist circumference as cardiometabolic risk factors, i.e. significantly associated with SUA levels in children and adolescents.