A Cross-sectional Study of the Relationship between Serum Uric Acid and Metabolic Syndrome in Adults of North Areas of Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi Province

Objective To evaluate the relationship between serum uric acid and metabolic syndrome in residents of north areas of Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi Province. Methods From October 2007 to April 2008, a stratified random sampling method was used to select 3 298 residents in the investigation. All subjects were tested on their serum uric acid, lipid, blood glucose, and physical examination including blood pressure, height, weight, waist circumference and hip circumference, while conducted a standardized questionnaire to know the medical history and lifestyle. Then relationship between serum uric acid and metabolic syndrome(MS) was analyzed on these data. Results The crude prevalence rates of hyperuricemia and MS were 6.22% and 16.89%, respectively, and the rates were higher in male than in female(P0.05). With the uric acid level increased, prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components(BMI, BP, TC, TG, LDL, postprandial 30-min glucose and 120-min glucose) level were also increased (P0.01). With the accumulation of metabolic syndrome components, the detection rate of hyperuricemia was rising, and it had significant difference by trend Chi-square test(P0.01). The risk of metabolic syndrome showed a graded increase according to serum uric acid level, it had statistically significance by trend Chi-square test(P0.01). Compared with the first quartile of serum uric acid level(199 μmol/L), multivariate regressions analysis showed the risk(OR,95% CI) of MS in the second third to the fourth quartile of serum uric acid(199～, 249～ and ≥309 μmol/L) was 1.235(0.979～1.559), 1.884(1.472～2.410) and 3.569(2.704～4.711), respectively. Conclusion The increased uric acid level is closely associated with metabolic syndrome and its components.