Prevalence of hyperuricaemia among adults from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of hyperuricaemia (HUA) and investigate its risk factors in the general adult population of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (NHAR), China. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Survey of cardiovascular disorders and their related risk factors in NHAR, China. PARTICIPANTS: 10 803 permanent residents aged 18 and older. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: HUA was defined as serum uric acid levels >420 µmol/L for men and >360 µmol/L for women. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of HUA in NHAR adults was 19.81% (95% CI 19.06 to 20.57), with prevalence values of 24.91% (95% CI 23.70 to 26.14) in men and 15.58% (95% CI 14.66 to 16.53, p<0.001) in women. The prevalence of HUA was higher in urban residents than in rural residents (23.26% vs 17.02%, p<0.001). HUA prevalence was relatively high in individuals younger than 30 years for both men and women, then decreased with age, and began to increase at the age of 40 for women and 60 for men. Higher level of education, being overweight or obese, alcohol consumption, hypertension, diabetes, higher triglycerides, higher total cholesterol and poorer renal function were associated with an increased risk of HUA. CONCLUSIONS: HUA prevalence is high among adults in NHAR. Young adults under 30 years and women over 50 years were identified as populations at high risk for HUA. Further attention ought to be placed to promoting healthy diets and implementing early interventions to manage dyslipidaemia, obesity and blood glucose level, as well as advocating for moderation of alcohol consumption.