Serum Uric Acid Level as a Harbinger of Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Observation in Taiwan

Background: Current evidence suggests an association of uric acid with diabetes risk, but it is still unclear whether uric acid is merely a risk marker or an independent risk factor. We evaluate the impact of serum uric acid (SUA) levels on the future risk of developing type 2 diabetes, independent of other factors. Methods: A population-based cohort study was conducted among 4130 participants who were found to be free of type 2 diabetes at baseline recruitment in 2002. Baseline SUA measured in 2002 was longitudinally related to the incident type 2 diabetes that occurred during the follow-up period between 2002 and 2007. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) derived from Cox proportional hazards models were used to quantify the association. Results: There was a graded increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes among individuals with increasing levels of SUA. In the whole study cohort, compared to quartile 1, the multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) of type 2 diabetes in quartile 2, quartile 3, and quartile 4 were 1.69 (0.76–3.76), 1.86 (0.88–4.26), and 1.94 (1.05–4.05), respectively (P for trend = 0.004). This positive gradient for the risk of type 2 diabetes across quartiles of SUA was evident in both genders and across age groups. Conclusions: This study supports that high uric acid concentrations are associated with increased diabetes risk, independent of other known risk factors. These data expand on well-established associations between SUA level and metabolic syndrome, and extend the link to the future risk of type 2 diabetes.