Uric acid and its association with the components of the metabolic syndrome in Colombian adolescents

Abstract

Background: the relationship of uric acid and the development of cardiometabolic diseases has been studied in recent years. However, the controversy continues to consider this finding as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease at early ages. The objective was to establish the prevalence of serum levels of altered uric acid and its association with the metabolic syndrome components in adolescents from Bucaramanga, Colombia. Methods: an analytical cross-sectional study, nested in a population cohort, with a sample of 494 re-contacted adolescents from the original study. The dependent variables were metabolic syndrome and its component criteria. The main independent variable was uric acid values, classified into two categories: uric acid at risk (values greater than 5.5 mg/dl) and high uric acid (greater than 6.5 mg/dl). Logistic regression models were used, adjusted for sex, age and body mass index to determine the association between the variables of interest. Results: the prevalence of uric acid at risk was 37.25% (CI 95%, 32.9-41.5) and the proportion of high uric acid was 18.42% (CI 95%, 14.9-21, 8), significantly higher in men than in women (p < 0.0001). Adolescents with high levels of uric acid were more likely to have abdominal obesity (OR: 3.03, CI 95% 1.38-6.64), high blood pressure (OR: 1.11, CI 95%, 1.05-2.07), hypertriglyceridemia (OR: 4.94, CI 95%, 2.98-8.19) and altered fasting glycemia (OR: 5.15, CI 95%, 3.42-11.05). Conclusions: the results suggest the existence of a positive relationship between the presence of high levels of uric acid and metabolic cardio-risk factors.