Serum Uric Acid (UA) Levels and Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) in Elementary School Children with Obesity from Nuevo León, Mexico

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate prevalence of hyperuricemia and MetS in the Elementary School children from Nuevo León, Mexico and the relationship between serum uric acid and the MetS. A cross‐sectional study was conducted among 299 children (172 boys and 127 girls) aged 6‐12 years, recruited through a Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León summer health camps. The diagnosis of the MetS is made as recommended by International Diabetes Federation when all of the children present abdominal obesity (WC 蠅 90th percentile) and two or more of the following criteria: 1) systolic blood pressure 蠅 130 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure 蠅 85 mmHg; 2) fasting triglycerides 蠅150 mg/dL; 3) HDL‐C <40 mg/dL; 4) fasting glucose 蠅 100 mg/dL). The prevalence of MetS was 37.4% in this population. Of those diagnosed with MetS, majority had levels of uric acid in the third and fourth quartile. Compared with the lowest 2 quartiles of UA together (2.0‐4.8 mg/dL) the odds ratios were .764 (95% confidence interval, 0.427‐1.367), for those in the third quartile (4.9 to 5.5 mg/dL) the odds ratios were 1.27 (95% confidence interval, 0.601 to 2.684) and for those in the top quartile (5.6‐8.0 mg/dL) the odds ratios were .481 (95% confidence interval, 0.239‐0.971) after adjustment for age, gender, and Tanner stage. Among Mexican elementary school children from the state of Nuevo León, serum UA is strongly associated with the prevalence and severity of MetS.