Hyperuricemia Associated with Low Skeletal Muscle in the Middle-Aged and Elderly Population in China

Abstract

Abstract Background Previous studies have presented inconsistent results on the relationship between serum uric acid and skeletal muscle mass (SMM). We aimed to explore whether a higher serum uric acid level was associated with low SMM in the Chinese population. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 6595 subjects aged 45 years or older. They were tested for fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. SMM was accessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry using two approaches: weight-adjusted appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM)% and ASM/BMI (body mass index (kg/m2)). Low SMM was defined as a cut-off point of ASM/BMI<0.789 for men and<0.512 for women. Results Compared with their normal group, patients with hyperuricemia had lower ASM% (29.33±2.33 vs 30.03±2.34 for males and 24.71±1.99 vs 25.19±2.07 for females, P<0.01) and ASM/BMI (0.83±0.10 vs 0.85±0.10 for male and 0.60±0.07 vs 0.62±0.07 for female), with a higher prevalence of the associated low SMM in both sexes (35.2 vs 26.5% for male and 10.5 vs 5.9% for female, P<0.01). Pearson analysis showed that ASM% and ASM/BMI were negatively correlated with SUA (male: ASM/BMI, r=−0.097, ASM%, r=−0.146; female: ASM/BMI, r=−0.151, ASM%, r=−0.157; all P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed a positive association of hyperuricemia with adjusted risk of low SMM association. Conclusions In a middle-aged and elderly Chinese population, hyperuricemia is independently and positively associated with low SMM and can vary by age and gender.