Sex Difference in the Prevalence and Associations among Hyperuricemia Adults in Rural Thailand: a Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Abstract Background Hyperuricemia (HUA) is not only an important risk factor for gout but is also linked to hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Although the prevalence of HUA is increasing, epidemiologic studies on HUA in the middle-aged and elderly populations are limited. The present study aimed to calculate the prevalence and evaluate the sex-related associations between metabolic parameters and HUA among middle-aged and elderly adults.Methods In a population-based cross-sectional study, we enrolled a total of 780 participants (men = 232 and women = 548) aged 40 years and over for health check-ups and examination surveys. The age-standardized prevalence of hyperuricemia was calculated by the direct method. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the potential associated factors with HUA.Results The prevalence of HUA was 30.9% (42% in men vs. 20% in women). The elderly adults were associated with a 35% increase in the prevalence of HUA. Obesity was found to be strongly associated with an increased prevalence of HUA in both sexes. Hypertriglyceridemia (51% increase in men vs. 23% increase in women), and high fasting glucose (90% increase in men vs. 49% increase in women) were also associated risk factors for HUA in both sexes. However, low high-density lipoprotein was only associated with a 67% increase in the prevalence of HUA in women.Conclusion The age-standardized prevalence of HUA among women is relatively lower than in men. This study also revealed that obesity is strongly associated with HUA in both men and women populations.