Serum uric acid levels and the risk of type 2 diabetes: a prospective study

Purpose

To evaluate the impact of serum uric acid levels on the future risk of developing type 2 diabetes independent of other factors.

Methods

We used prospective data from the Framingham Heart Study original (n = 4883) and offspring (n = 4292) cohorts to examine the association between serum uric acid levels and the incidence of diabetes. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate the relative risk of incident diabetes adjusting for age, sex, physical activity, alcohol consumption, smoking, hypertension, body mass index, and blood levels of glucose, cholesterol, creatinine, and triglycerides.

Results

We identified 641 incident cases of diabetes in the original cohort and 497 cases in the offspring cohort. The incidence rates of diabetes per 1000 person-years for serum uric acid levels <5.0, 5.0-5.9, 6.0-6.9, 7.0-7.9 and ≥8.0 mg/dL were 3.3, 6.1, 8.7, 11.5, and 15.9, respectively, in the original cohort; and 2.9, 5.0, 6.6, 8.7, and 10.9, respectively, in the offspring cohort (P-values for trends <.001). Multivariable relative risks per mg/dL increase in serum uric acid levels were 1.20 (95% confidence interval; 1.11-1.28) for the original cohort and 1.15 (95% confidence interval; 1.06-1.23) for the offspring cohort.

Conclusions

These prospective data from 2 generations of the Framingham Heart Study provide evidence that individuals with higher serum uric acid; including younger adults, are at a higher future risk of type 2 diabetes independent of other known risk factors. These data expand on cross-sectional associations between hyperuricemia and the metabolic syndrome, and extend the link to the future risk of type 2 diabetes.     

Serum uric acid predicts incident hypertension in a biethnic cohort: the atherosclerosis risk in communities study

Serum uric acid has been positively associated with incident hypertension, but previous studies have had limited ability to explore this relationship across sex and ethnic strata. We sought to evaluate this association in a biethnic cohort of middle-aged men and women. Participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study who were free of hypertension at baseline (N=9104) were evaluated for hypertension at 3-year intervals over 4 examinations. Adjusted Cox proportional hazards models evaluated risk of incident hypertension or progression of blood category for each SD higher baseline serum uric acid. At baseline, the mean age was 53.3 years (range: 45 to 64 years), with a mean (SD) systolic blood pressure of 113.8 (12.2) mm Hg, mean diastolic blood pressure of 70.2 (8.6) mm Hg, and mean serum uric acid of 5.7 (1.4). Higher serum uric acid was associated with greater risk of hypertension in the overall cohort (hazard ratio for each SD of higher uric acid [95% CI]: 1.10 [1.04 to 1.15]) and in subgroup analyses (black men: 1.32 [1.14 to 1.54]; black women: 1.16 [1.03 to 1.31]; white men: 1.01 [0.94 to 1.09]; white women: 1.04 [0.96 to 1.11]), after adjustment for age, baseline blood pressure, body mass index, renal function, diabetes, and smoking. The pattern was similar when modeling blood pressure progression (overall: 1.10 [1.05 to 1.14]; black men: 1.26 [1.11 to 1.42]; black women: 1.18 [1.06 to 1.31]; white men: 1.05 [0.99 to 1.11]; white women: 1.05 [1.00 to 1.12]). In conclusion, serum uric acid was positively associated with incident hypertension over 9 years of follow-up, and this relationship was stronger in blacks than in whites. More research is warranted concerning the physiological and clinical consequences of hyperuricemia, especially in blacks.     

Serum uric acid and mortality thresholds among men and women in the Irish health system: A cohort study

BackgroundElevation of serum uric acid (SUA) is associated with increased mortality; however, controversy exists regarding the nature of the relationship and differences between men and women. We explored relationships of SUA levels with all-cause mortality in a large cohort of patients within the Irish health system.MethodsA retrospective cohort study of 26,525 participants was conducted using data from the National Kidney Disease Surveillance System. SUA was modelled in increments of 59.48 µmol/L (1 mg/dL), Cox's proportional hazards model estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI), median lifetimes were also computed separately for men and women. Mortality patterns were further explored using penalised splines.ResultsThere were 1,288 (4.9%) deaths over a median follow-up of 5.1 years. In men, the risk of mortality was greatest for the lowest (<238 µmol/L) and highest (>535 µmol/L) categories [HR 2.35 (1.65–3.14) and HR 2.52 (1.87–3.29) respectively]; the corresponding median lifetimes for men were reduced by 9.5 and 11.7 years respectively compared to the referent. In women, mortality risks were elevated for SUA >416 mol/L [HR 1.69 (1.13–2.47) and beyond; the corresponding median lifetime for women were reduced by 5.9 years compared to the referent. Spline analysis revealed a U-shaped association between SUA and mortality in men, while for women, the pattern of association was J-shaped.ConclusionMortality patterns attributed to SUA differ between men and women. Optimal survival was associated with SUA concentrations of 304–454 µmol/L for men and < 409 µmol/L for women.     

Sex hormonal factors and chronic widespread pain: a population study among women

OBJECTIVE: The observation of higher rates of chronic widespread pain, the cardinal feature of fibromyalgia, in women has led to hypotheses about the role of sex hormonal factors in the aetiology of symptoms. There is little available evidence from epidemiological studies on their importance or role. METHODS: A population postal survey was carried out involving 1178 female participants living in south-east Cheshire in the north-west of England. RESULTS: Amongst pre- and peri-menopausal women, the risk of chronic widespread pain was unrelated either to the length of the menstrual cycle or the usual length of period reported by participants. Risk was similar in current users and non-users of the oral contraceptive pill, and amongst users there was no relationship with duration of use. However, the reporting of chronic widespread pain showed a relationship with total score on a premenstrual symptom questionnaire. However, this relationship was explained by pain symptoms. Amongst post-menopausal women, reporting chronic widespread pain was not related to age at menopause. An increased (but non-significant) risk of chronic widespread pain was associated with current hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which may be a consequence of HRT being prescribed for menopausal symptoms. CONCLUSION: This study, conducted on a large unselected population, has not demonstrated an association between sex hormonal factors and chronic widespread pain.     

Serum uric acid and its change with the risk of type 2 diabetes: A prospective study in China

ObjectiveTo assess the association of baseline uric acid levels and their changes from baseline to Year 1 with the risk of type 2 diabetes.Research design and methodsThis study cohort included 9471 subjects without a history of diabetes at baseline. The incident diabetes was diagnosed according to the American Diabetes Association standard.ResultsDuring a mean follow-up of 2.9 years, we identified 762 type 2 diabetes cases. Multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of diabetes across baseline tertiles of serum uric acid were 1.00, 1.15, and 1.32 (P for trend = 0.018), respectively. Participants with hyperuricemia compared with those without had a 1.20-fold (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01−1.44) risk of diabetes. When uric acid was examined as a continuous variable, multivariable-adjusted HR of diabetes for each 1 mg/dL (60 μmol/L) increase in serum uric acid was 1.09 (95% CI 1.03−1.15). Compared with subjects with stable serum uric acid from baseline to Year 1 (±10%), those with uric acid gain ≥30% had a 30% (95% CI 1.01–1.79) increased risk of diabetes and those with uric acid loss ≥10% had a 21% (95% 0.62−0.99) decreased risk of diabetes. This positive association between baseline serum uric acid and diabetes risk was consistent among subjects younger and older than 45 years, non-obese and obese participants, and men.ConclusionsHigh level of baseline serum uric acid and serum uric acid gain from baseline to Year 1 are associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes among Chinese adults.     

Serum uric acid as a sensitive concordant marker with lupus nephritis and new onset of renal damage: a prospective cohort study

Clinical Rheumatology - The objectives of this study are to assess serum different uric acid levels among systemic lupus erythematosus patients with or without active lupus nephritis in comparison...     

Serum uric acid is independently associated with aortic arch calcification in a cross-sectional study of middle-aged and elderly women

Background and aimsThe increased serum uric acid (SUA) level is associated with the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks. Aortic arch calcification (AAC) reflects subclinical coronary atherosclerosis and is linked to subsequent cardiovascular morbidity and mortality risks closely. To better understand the role of SUA on arteriosclerosis and CVD, we aim to determine the association between SUA and the presence of AAC.Methods and resultsA total of 5920 individuals aged >45 years old without prior CVD disease were included. The prevalence rate of AAC was 14.4% in all participants and a significantly increasing trend for AAC prevalence rate was found across the SUA tertiles (p < 0.001 for trend). Subsequent subgroup analyses revealed that this positive association trend was only significant in female subjects. After adjusting for confounders, SUA is an independent predictor for the presence of AAC in overall participants and in women.ConclusionSUA is independently associated with AAC in middle-aged and elderly population, especially in the women. More research needs to determine whether lower thresholds for CVD risk screening for those middle-aged and elderly women with higher SUA tertile even without hyperuricemia are warranted.     

Serum uric acid as a prognostic marker in the setting of advanced vascular disease: a prospective study in the elderly

Background Many epidemiological studies analyze the relationship between hyperuricemia and cardiovascular outcomes. This observational prospective study investigates the association of serum uric acid (SUA) levels with adverse cardiovascular events and deaths in an elderly population affected by advanced atherosclerosis. Methods Two hundred and seventy six elderly patients affected by advanced atherosclerosis (217 males and 59 females; aged 71.2 ± 7.8 years) were included. All patients were assessed for history of cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity and traditional risk factors. Patients were followed for approximately 31 ± 11 months. Major events were recorded during follow-up, defined as myocardial infarction, cerebral ischemia, myocardial and/or peripheral revascularization and death. Results Mean SUA level was 5.47 ± 1.43 mg/dL; then we further divided the population in two groups, according to the median value (5.36 mg/dL). During a median follow up of 31 months (5 to 49 months), 66 cardiovascular events, 9 fatal cardiovascular events and 14 cancer-related deaths have occurred. The patients with increased SUA level presented a higher significant incidence of total cardiovascular events (HR: 1.867, P = 0.014, 95%CI: 1.134–3.074). The same patients showed a significant increased risk of cancer-related death (HR: 4.335, P = 0.025, 95%CI: 1.204–15.606). Conclusions Increased SUA levels are independently and significantly associated with risk of cardiovascular events and cancer related death in a population of mainly elderly patients affected by peripheral vasculopathy.     

Serum uric acid and C-reactive protein levels in patients with chronic kidney disease

Either inflammation or hyperuricemia has been related with increased cardiovascular risk and mortality. A hypothetical relationship between serum uric acid levels (SUA) and inflammatory markers has never been tested in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in CKD patients, and to test the hypothesis of a relationship between SUA and CRP levels. The study group consisted of 337 patients (174 males, mean age 63 +/- 16 years) with advanced chronic renal failure not yet on dialysis. None of them had overt inflammatory or infectious diseases. High sensitivity CRP levels were analyzed as a binary (above or below median value), or continuous variable (log-transformed CRP), by multiple logistic or linear regression analysis, respectively. Demographics, clinical, and biochemical characteristics, including SUA levels, were the variables tested in these analysis. In a subset of 169 patients without diabetes, the same analysis were carried out, with the inclusion of fasting insulin levels and HOMA-IR as independent variables. Median CRP level was 3.25 mg/L, and mean SUA level was 7.59 +/- 1.94 mg/dl. Patients with CRP levels above the median had significantly higher mean SUA level than that of the rest of study patients (7.93 +/- 1.79 vs 7.24 +/- 2.03 mg/dl, p = 0.001). SUA levels correlated significantly with log-transformed CRP levels (r = 0. 16, p = 0.0022). The relationship between SUA and CRP levels remained statistically significant after adjustment for age, sex, comorbid index, obesity, residual renal function, diuretic and allopurinol treatment, in the multivariate logistic and linear regression models (OR: 1.296, p = 0.0003; and beta: 0.204, p = 0.0002). The significant association between SUA and CRP levels did not change when HOMA-IR and fasting insulin levels were included as independent variables in the subset of 169 patients without diabetes. In conclusion, SUA levels are related with CRP levels in CKD patients.     

Hyperkyphotic posture predicts mortality in older community-dwelling men and women: a prospective study

OBJECTIVES: To determine the association between hyperkyphotic posture and rate of mortality and cause-specific mortality in older persons. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Rancho Bernardo, California. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects were 1,353 participants from the Rancho Bernardo Study who had measurements of kyphotic posture made at an osteoporosis visit between 1988 and 1991. MEASURES: Kyphotic posture was measured as the number of 1.7-cm blocks that needed to be placed under the participant's head to achieve a neutral head position when lying supine on a radiology table. Demographic and clinical characteristics and health behaviors were assessed at a clinic visit using standard questionnaires. Participants were followed for an average of 4.2 years, with mortality and cause of death confirmed using review of death certificates. RESULTS: Hyperkyphotic posture, defined as requiring one or more blocks under the occiput to achieve a neutral head position while lying supine, was more common in men than women (44% in men, 22% of women, P<.0001). In age- and sex-adjusted analyses, persons with hyperkyphotic posture had a 1.44 greater rate of mortality (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.12-1.86, P=.005). In multiply adjusted models, the increased rate of death associated with hyperkyphotic posture remained significant (relative hazard=1.40, 95% CI=1.08-1.81, P=.012). In cause-specific mortality analyses, hyperkyphotic posture was specifically associated with an increased rate of death due to atherosclerosis. CONCLUSION: Older men and women with hyperkyphotic posture have higher mortality rates.     

Serum uric acid predicts vascular complications in adults with type 1 diabetes: the coronary artery calcification in type 1 diabetes study

Epidemiologic evidence supports a link between serum uric acid (SUA) and vascular complications in diabetes, but it remains unclear whether SUA improves the ability of conventional risk factor to predict complications. We hypothesized that SUA at baseline would independently predict the development of vascular complications over 6 years and that the addition of SUA to American Diabetes Association’s ABC risk factors (HbA1c, BP, LDL-C) would improve vascular complication prediction over 6 years in adults with type 1 diabetes. Study participants (N = 652) were 19–56 year old at baseline and re-examined 6 years later. Diabetic nephropathy was defined as incident albuminuria or rapid GFR decline (>3.3 %/year) estimated by the CKD-EPI cystatin C. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) was based on self-reported history, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) was defined as laser eye therapy; coronary artery calcium (CAC) was measured using electron-beam computed tomography. Progression of CAC (CACp) was defined as a change in the square-root-transformed CAC volume ≥2.5. Predictors of each complication were examined in stepwise logistic regression with subjects with complications at baseline excluded from analyses. C-statistics, integrated discrimination indices and net-reclassification improvement were utilized for prediction performance analyses. SUA independently predicted development of incident albuminuria (OR 1.8, 95 % CI 1.2–2.7), rapid GFR decline (1.9, 1.1–3.3), DR (1.4, 1.1–1.9), PDR (2.1, 1.4–3.0) and CACp (1.5, 1.1–1.9). SUA improved the discrimination and net-classification risk of vascular complications over 6 years. SUA independently predicted the development of vascular complications in type 1 diabetes and also improved the reclassification of vascular complications.     

Serum uric acid levels and long-term outcomes in chronic kidney disease

Hyperuricemia is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD), but data regarding the relationship between serum uric acid levels and the long-term outcomes of CKD patients have been limited. The present study evaluated the associations between baseline serum uric acid levels with mortality and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The subjects of this study were 551 stage 2–4 CKD patients. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the relationship between serum uric acid tertiles and all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, 50 % reduction in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and development of ESRD, initially without adjustment, and then after adjusting for several groups of covariates. The mean age of the study subjects was 58.5 years, 59.3 % were men, and 10.0 % had diabetes. The mean eGFR was 42.02 ± 18.52 ml/min/1.73 m². In all subjects, the mean serum uric acid level was 6.57 ± 1.35 mg/dl, and 52.2 % of study subjects were on hypouricemic therapy (allopurinol; 48.3 %) at baseline. Thirty-one patients (6.1 %) died during a follow-up period of approximately 6 years. There was no significant association between serum uric acid level and all-cause mortality, CVD mortality, development of ESRD and 50 % reduction in eGFR in the unadjusted Cox models. In the adjusted models, hyperuricemia was found to be associated with all-cause mortality and CVD mortality after adjustment with CVD risk factors, kidney disease factors, and allopurinol, but not associated with development of ESRD and 50 % reduction in eGFR. The results of this study showed that hyperuricemia but not serum uric acid levels were associated with all-cause mortality, CVD mortality after adjustments with CVD risk factors, kidney disease factors, and allopurinol in stage 2–4 CKD patients.     

Serum uric acid level and bone mineral density in Iraqi postmenopausal women

BackgroundThe role of uric acid (UA) in bone mineral density (BMD) has been investigated with diverse results.Aim of the workTo study the relation between serum UA and BMD in Iraqi postmenapausal women.Patients and methodsThe study involved 151 Iraqi postmenapausal women recruited from Baghdad Medical City. Serum UA was measured on two occasions and subjects were categorized into four quartiles according to the serum concentrations. BMD was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and T-score calculated at the lumbar spine (L1-L4) and right femoral neck.ResultsThe mean age of the subjects was 53 ± 9.1 years, body mass index was 31 ± 3.68 and the menopause duration was 8.13 ± 5.86 years. Their mean serum UA level was 4.72 ± 1.35 mg/dl. 56 (37.1%) subjects were osteopenic and 34 (22.5%) were osteoporotic. The mean BMD increased significantly across the quartiles; the highest was in the fourth UA quartile (highest) for both the lumbar spine and right femoral neck. The percentage of women with osteoporosis and osteopenia were lowest in the fourth UA quartile. UA was significantly associated with BMD at L1-L4 spine (p = 0.04) and right femoral neck (p = 0.004) and with the corresponding T-scores (p = 0.008 and p = 0.01 respectively). After adjusting for confounding factors for UA on BMD, only the association of UA with L1-L4 BMD (β = 0.03, p = 0.01) and T-value (β = 0.32, p = 0.009) was still significant.ConclusionHigher serum UA levels were associated with higher BMDs at the lumbar spine suggesting that it may have a beneficial effect on the bone density.     

Serum uric acid levels in patients with cirrhosis: a reevaluation.

It has been reported that the serum uric acid levels in patients with cirrhosis were decreased compared with healthy subjects. These studies suggested that the lower serum uric acid levels in cirrhotic patients were attributed mainly to an increased effective vascular volume, and consequently to an excessive renal clearance of uric acid. However, the previous observations are challenged by a recent hypothesis for the pathogenesis of hyperdynamic circulation and formation of ascites in cirrhosis. The current study was undertaken to reevaluate serum uric acid levels in patients with cirrhosis. Ninety-eight cirrhotic patients with normal renal functions were included in this study. All biochemical and hemodynamic data were utilized for analysis. The mean serum uric acid level (mean, 6.1+/-1.2 mg/dL; range, 2.7-9.1 mg/dL) was higher than that of the age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects (mean, 5.5+/-1.3 mg/dL; range, 2.9-8.1 mg/dL; p = 0.018). Using multiple regression analysis it was determined that the serum uric acid level was not related to the severity of liver disease, cardiac index, systemic vascular resistance, and hepatic venous pressure gradient but was related closely to age (r = 0.210, p = 0.026) and effective renal plasma flow (r = -0.677, p < 0.0001). Compared with cirrhotic patients without ascites, those with ascites had a significantly higher serum uric acid level (6.7+/-1.6 mg/dL vs. 5.6+/-1.7 mg/dL, p < 0.05) and lower effective renal plasma flow (396+/-125 mL/min vs. 445+/-149 mL/min, p < 0.05). In conclusion, for cirrhotic patients with normal serum creatinine levels, the current study shows that the mean serum uric acid level is higher than that of healthy control subjects. It is not related to the severity of liver failure and systemic and portal hemodynamics, but is related closely to renal functions, especially the renal plasma flow.     

Increasing kyphosis predicts worsening mobility in older community-dwelling women: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether increasing kyphosis angle was independently associated with poorer mobility as measured according to the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), after controlling for other established risk factors. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Eleven clinical centers in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: Two thousand seven hundred seventy‐seven women aged 55 to 80 randomized to the placebo arms of the Fracture Intervention Trial, a randomized controlled trial of the effect of alendronate on risk for osteoporotic fractures. MEASUREMENTS: The primary predictor was change in kyphosis angle, measured using the Debrunner Kyphometer; the outcome was change in mobility, measured as performance time on the TUG. Covariates were baseline age, kyphosis angle, body mass index (BMI), self‐reported health status, grip strength, change in total hip bond mineral density (BMD), and number of vertebral fractures over a mean of 4.4 years. RESULTS: Greater kyphosis angle predicted longer mobility performance times (P<.001), independent of other significant predictors of worsening mobility including age, baseline kyphosis, health status, grip strength, BMI, change in hip BMD, and new vertebral fractures. TUG performance times increased by 0.02 seconds (95% confidence interval (CI)=0.01–0.03) for every 5° increase in kyphosis angle, more than the increase in mobility time of 0.01 seconds (95% CI=0.005–0.03) over 1 year observed in this cohort. CONCLUSION: Increasing kyphosis angle is independently associated with worsening mobility. Interventions are needed to prevent or reduce increasing kyphosis and mobility decline.     

Serum uric acid is a determinant of metabolic syndrome in a population-based study

BACKGROUND: Determination of serum uric acid concentrations and role in risk of metabolic syndrome (MS) were investigated in 1877 participants in a cross-sectional population-based study including a brief follow-up. METHODS: The MS was identified by modified criteria of the Adult Treatment Panel III, and coronary heart disease (CHD) by clinical findings and Minnesota coding of resting electrocardiograms. Uric acid concentrations were measured by the uricase method. RESULTS: Metabolic syndrome was present in 39.1% of the cohort. Linear regression analysis of uric acid levels in a model comprising 13 variables identified gender, waist girth, total cholesterol (TC), alcohol usage, triglycerides, log C-reactive protein (CRP), and log gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and in women diuretic use and elevated blood pressure (BP), as significant independent covariates whereby the largest contribution (1.6 mg/dL) was generated by waist girth. Logistic regression analysis of serum uric acid for MS disclosed for the top versus the bottom tertile an odds ratio (OR) of 1.89 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.45-2.46) in men and women combined, after adjustment for sex, age, TC, log CRP, log GGT, alcohol, and diuretic drug use, presence of diabetes/impaired fasting glucose, elevated BP, and smoking status. This corresponded to an increase by 35% in MS likelihood for each 1 SD uric acid increment. This rate declined to a significant 15% by inclusion of waist girth into the model. The OR of uric acid concentrations for prevalent and incident CHD, adjusted for age, MS, smoking, and diuretic use, was not significant among women and only tended toward significance in men. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal obesity is the main determinant of uric acid variance. An increment of 1 SD in serum uric acid levels are associated in both sexes with a 35% higher MS likelihood, independent of 10 risk factors related to MS. After adjustment for waist girth, a more modest but significant likelihood persists, which suggests that serum uric acid is a determinant of MS.     

Serum uric acid and leptin levels in metabolic syndrome: a quandary over the role of uric acid

This study investigates the impact of uric acid (UA) on the risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome. In addition, this study explores the relationship between UA and insulin resistance and serum leptin levels in metabolic syndrome. A total of 470 subjects (252 women and 218 men) were recruited from the Department of Health Management at Chang Gung Medical Center (Linkou, Taiwan). Metabolic syndrome was defined using a modified Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) definition. The formula for the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) is as follows: fasting serum insulin (microU/mL) x fasting plasma glucose (mmol/L)/22.5. Diabetes mellitus was diagnosed in 45 subjects (9.6%); 82 subjects (17.4%) had hypertension. Hyperuricemia was diagnosed in 144 subjects (30.6%). Of these subjects, 115 (63 females and 52 males) (24.5%) were diagnosed as having metabolic syndrome. Patients with hyperuricemia had increased body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and triglyceride (Tg) level. The subjects also had lower high-density lipoprotein and greater hypertension. Hormone assays showed an elevation of leptin, immunoreactive insulin (IRI), and HOMA-IR in the hyperuricemia group. Uric acid appeared to be better correlated with Tg, blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic), obesity, immunoreactive insulin, and HOMA-IR. Uric acid did not correlate with leptin or blood glucose levels. Metabolic syndrome and Tg/high-density lipoprotein ratio showed a statistically significant difference in HOMA-IR using 3.8 as a cutoff value. Otherwise, there was no difference in leptin value. In conclusion, serum UA is significantly related to risk factors of metabolic syndrome except for blood glucose. Waist-to-hip ratio and HOMA-IR were statistically different in subjects with and without metabolic syndrome.     

Laparoscopy in chronic abdominal pain: a prospective nonrandomized long-term follow-up study

GOAL: Our aim was to assess the long-term efficacy of diagnostic laparoscopy and adhesiolysis on the treatment of intractable chronic abdominal pain. STUDY: This was a prospective nonrandomized study of 72 patients (60 women and 12 men). One surgeon performed a total of 79 diagnostic laparoscopies including 61 adhesiolysis. The patients' demographic data, operative findings, and long-term postoperative course were carefully recorded. A quality-of-life questionnaire was mailed after the mean follow-up of 3.7 years to find out the late course of any chronic abdominal symptoms after the surgery. RESULTS: Intra-abdominal adhesions were found in 61 patients (85%) in the laparoscopy, gynecologic disorders in 4, chronic appendicitis in 1, and no abnormality in 6 patients. The abdominal wall pain was a likely reason for pain in 12 patients (17%). The complication rate was minimal, including only four bleedings (one major), one perforation of urinary bladder, and three wound infections. At 1-month control, 38% of the patients were completely free of pain. In the long-term follow-up, chronic abdominal pain was totally healed in 33%, diminished in 46%, and unchanged in 21% of the patients. A total of 65 patients (90%) reported that the surgery had been beneficial for their intractable pain. CONCLUSIONS: By careful selection, for patients with chronic abdominal pain, laparoscopy alleviates the symptoms in more than 70% of the patients, and it should be considered if other diagnostics tests are negative. A placebo-controlled study is needed, in which the patients are randomized into laparoscopy and conservatively treated groups with a quality-of-life measurement.     

Serum uric acid in early pregnancy and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: A cohort study of 85,609 pregnant women

AimsHigher serum uric acid (UA) has been associated with increased risk of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. This cohort study examined whether there are any associations between serum UA in early pregnancy and the subsequent risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).MethodsThis cohort study was conducted in Shanghai, China, and included 85,609 pregnant women. Generalised additive models were used to estimate the associations of serum UA with risk of GDM.ResultsThe prevalence of GDM was 14.0% (11,960/85,609). Non-linear associations between serum UA and GDM risk were observed and these associations varied by gestational ages. Only elevated serum UA levels at 13–18 weeks gestation was associated with substantially increased risk of GDM. Analysis by UA quintiles at 13–18 weeks gestation showed the odds ratios for GDM were 1.11 (95%CI, 1.03–1.20) for the second, 1.27 (95%CI, 1.17–1.37) for the third, 1.37 (95%CI, 1.27–1.48) for the fourth and 1.70 (95%CI, 1.58–1.84) for the fifth quintile of serum UA in comparison with the first quintile. Stratified analysis showed the associations of serum UA with GDM were stronger among pregnant women aged 35 years or older.ConclusionWe found higher serum UA at 13–18 gestational weeks was a risk factor for GDM. Our findings provide new evidence for the role of serum UA in the prevention and early intervention of GDM, and highlighted the need for monitoring serum UA at 13–18 gestational weeks.     

Serum uric acid levels and inflammatory markers with respect to dipping status: A retrospective analysis of hypertensive patients with or without chronic kidney disease

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate serum uric acid levels, inflammatory markers [C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR)] and mean platelet volume (MPV) among hypertensive patients with or without chronic kidney disease (CKD) with respect to dipping status. Methods: A total of 432 hypertensive patients with (n = 340) or without (n = 92) CKD who had ambulatory blood pressure monitoring recordings were included. Correlation of serum uric acid levels with inflammatory markers (CRP, PLR, NLR) was evaluated as was the logistic regression analysis for determinants of nondipper pattern. Results: Nondipper pattern was noted in 65.2% and 79.7% of non-CKD and CKD patients, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that only serum uric acid (OR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.60 to 4.52; p = 0.000), MPV (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.30 to 2.53; p = 0.000), PLR (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97 to 0.99; p = 0.000), and serum albumin (OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.93; p = 0.031) were significant determinants of nondipper pattern in the overall study population. Conclusion: In conclusion, our findings revealed higher prevalence of nondipper pattern in hypertensive patients with than without CKD and significantly higher levels for uric acid, CRP, MPV, PLR, and NLR among nondipper than dipper hypertensive patients with CKD. High levels for uric acid and MPV and lower levels for PLR and serum albumin were noted as significant determinants of nondipper pattern among hypertensive patients.