ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE SERUM URIC ACID LEVEL AND THE BODY MASS INDEX IN SEX- AND AGE-SPECIFIC GROUPS IN SOUTHWESTERN CHINA.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the sex- and age-specific association between the serum uric acid level and the body mass index (BMI).

METHODS: A total of 144,856 subjects aged 20-79 years of age were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The serum uric acid level, renal function, hepatic function, and the lipid profile were investigated.

RESULTS: The prevalence of hyperuricemia decreased with age in men but increased in women. In men, the correlation coefficient between the serum urate level and the BMI declined steadily with age. Underweight was associated with a 53-68% and a 66% lower prevalence of hyperuricemia in men aged 20-69 years of age and in women aged 20-29 years of age, respectively. Overweight and obesity were correlated with a higher odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval, 95% CI) for hyperuricemia in both genders. In individuals with overweight or obesity, younger subjects had a higher OR (95% CI) for hyperuricemia than older subjects. Among the subjects aged 20-59 years of age, as they gained weight, the OR (95% CI) for hyperuricemia increased faster in women than that in men compared with their respective normal weight controls.

CONCLUSION: Underweight was associated with a lower prevalence of hyperuricemia in men aged ≤69 years of age. In individuals with overweight or obesity, younger subjects were more likely to develop hyperuricemia than older subjects. With active weight gain, the likelihood for developing hyperuricemia increased faster in women than in men compared with their respective normal weight controls.