Clinical Significance of Serum Uric Acid Levels in Mexican Young Adults.

Background: High serum uric acid concentration (SUA >6 for women [W] or 7 mg/dL for men [M]) in adults is an independent risk factor for causing cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD); the risk of high SUA in young population is still being debated.

Summary: We conducted an epidemiological study to determine the association between SUA quartiles with cardiometabolic risk factors (CRF) and renal impairment in apparently healthy young adults. CRF (dyslipidemia, overweight [Ow], obesity [Ob], blood pressure [BP], hyperglycemia, insulin resistance [IR]) and renal impairment were defined as glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by CKD-Epidemiology Collaboration formula >130/120, <90 mL/min/1.73 m2, and proteinuria were measured in 18- to 25-year-old students (total n = 5,531). Adjusted ORs by sex were calculated using logistic regression.

Results: The mean SUA was 4.5 ± 1.04 and 6.2 ± 1.2 mg/dL in W and M respectively. High SUA was found in 13.9% (n = 767); prevalence of Ow/Ob 69% (528 of 767), high BP 9% (67), hyperglycemia 15% (112), IR 47% (214), hypertriglyceridemia 35% (269), high LDL-c 16% (120), low HDL-c 52% (399), and metabolic syndrome 33% (249). Prevalence of high GFR was 13% (103), low GFR 8% (62) and proteinuria 5% (37). All risk factors showed a positive relationship with the SUA quartiles with high LDL-c with lowest risk (OR 1.7) and Ow/Ob with highest risk (OR 4.1), independent of sex. Key Messages: High SUA concentrations (M ≥6.2/W ≥4.5 mg/dL) are associated with CRF and renal impairment in young adults. It is necessary to reevaluate the cutoff points for UA in young adults.