Serum Uric Acid Levels and Metabolic Indices in an Obese Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between serum uric acid (SUA) and metabolic state in obese inpatients and preliminarily explore potential mechanisms of hyperuricemia in obesity. METHODS: A total of 153 obese inpatients were selected and assigned based on SUA level to the normal uric acid (NC group) or high uric acid (HUA) group. Patients’ sex, age, height, weight, blood pressure, BMI, and prevalence of metabolic syndrome were collected and recorded. SUA, FPG, FIns, HOMA-IR, HOMA-IS, HbA(1c), TGs, TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C levels were tested. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to analyze the correlation between SUA and related metabolic indicators. Logistic regression was performed to analyze independent risk factors of hyperuricemia in obesity. RESULTS: In the HUA group, the patients were predominantly males, and BMI, DBP, TGs, FPG, FIns, HOMA-IR, HOMA-IS, and metabolic syndrome were higher than those in the NC group (P<0.05), while HDL-C was lower than that in the NC group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the groups in TC or LDL-C. Pearson correlation analysis showed that in obese patients, SUA was positively correlated with BMI, FIns, HOMA-IR, HOMA-IS, TGs, andmetabolic syndrome and negatively correlated with age and HDL-C. Logistic regression showed that BMI, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance were independent risk factors of hyperuricemia. CONCLUSION: Development of hyperuricemia in obese populations might be correlated with hyperinsulinemia or insulin resistance.