Hyperuricemia: a Reality in the Indian Obese

Hyperuricemia is known to be associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of hyperuricemia in the Indian obese population and to determine if a correlation exists between hyperuricemia, body mass index, waist circumference and components of metabolic syndrome. This was a retrospective observational study. Four hundred nine obese patients were included. Anthropometric parameters were recorded. Prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension and dyslipidemia were recorded. Uric acid levels were measured in all patients. Hyperuricemia was defined as serum uric acid levels greater than 6 mg/dl. The population studied had a median body mass index (BMI) of 44.14 kg/m² (range 28.1–88.2 kg/m²) and a median age of 41 years (range 18 to 75 years). Overall prevalence of hyperuricemia was 44.6 %. Thirty-four percent in the BMI range of 28–35 kg/m² and 47 % of patients with a BMI of >35 kg/m² had hyperuricemia. The incidence of hyperuricemia in males was 50 vs 21.7 % in females. Of patients in the hyperuricemia group, 47.3 % had hypertension as compared to 37 % in the normouricemic group. Dyslipidemia was seen in 7.3 % of hyperuricemic patients as compared to 5.8 % of the normouricemic subjects. The prevalence of T2DM was comparable in both the groups. The Indian obese population has a significant high prevalence of hyperuricemia; the incidence of hyperuricemia in male patients was greater than in female patients. Central obesity had no direct link to hyperuricemia. There was no significant correlation between the occurrence of T2DM and dyslipidemia and hyperuricemia. Hypertension was the only comorbidity seen to occur in conjunction with hyperuricemia.