Clinical and Metabolic Characteristics of Hyperuricemia with Risk of Liver Fibrosis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The role of serum uric acid (SUA) in the role of advanced fibrosis is not fully explored. The study assesses the risk of advanced fibrosis according to SUA in an Asian population with a total of 3612 subjects enrolled in one health management center between 2006 and 2008. The fibrosis-4 score was used for the prediction of the high risk of advanced fibrosis. SUA scores higher than 7.6 mg/dL in men and 6.6 mg/dL in women were defined as hyperuricemia. A proportional odds model was used to assess cumulative risks of advanced fibrosis. The prevalence of high risk of advanced fibrosis was 2.5% in the hyperuricemia group and 0.6% in the normal SUA group (p < 0.001). After adjustment for confounding factors, the odds ratios (OR) for more severe advanced fibrosis were 1.37 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07–1.78) in the hyperuricemia group. Hyperuricemia only increased the risk of advanced fibrosis in the non-T2DM group (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.74) instead of T2DM group (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 0.97 to 3.53). SUA is a risk factor for a higher risk of advanced fibrosis, with the disease likely progressing from a steatotic to a fibrotic picture. The focus should be more emphasized in non-T2DM groups.