Prevalence of hyperuricemia and the population attributable fraction of modifiable risk factors: Evidence from a general population cohort in China

Abstract

Data on updated hyperuricemia prevalence in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region in China, which is one of the world-class urban agglomerations, is sparse. Overweight/obesity, alcohol consumption, smoking and sedentary behavior are modifiable risk factors (MRFs) for elevated serum uric acid (SUA), but their population attributable fractions (PAFs) for hyperuricemia is still unclear. Using baseline data from the BTH Physical Examination General Population Cohort, we calculated the crude- and adjusted-prevalence of hyperuricemia based on the 30,158 participants aged 18-80 years. Hyperuricemia was defined as SUA >420 μmol/L in men and >360 μmol/L in women, or currently use of uric acid lowering drugs. Overweight/obesity, alcohol consumption, smoking and sedentary behavior were considered as MRFs and their adjusted PAFs were estimated. The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 19.37%, 27.72% in men and 10.69% in women. The PAFs and 95% confidence intervals for overweight, obesity were 16.25% (14.26-18.25%) and 12.08% (11.40-12.77%) in men, 13.95% (12.31-15.59%) and 6.35% (5.97-6.74%) in women, respectively. Alcohol consumption can explain 4.64% (2.72-6.56%) hyperuricemia cases in men, but with no statistical significance in women. Cigarette smoking contributed to 3.15% (1.09-5.21%) cases in men, but a much lower fraction in women (0.85%, 0.49-1.22%). Compared with sedentary time <2 h per day, the PAFs of 2-4 h, 4-6 h, and more than 6 h per day were 3.14% (1.34-4.93%), 6.72% (4.44-8.99%) and 8.04% (4.95-11.13%) in men, respectively. Sedentary time was not found to be associated with hyperuricemia in women. These findings concluded that hyperuricemia is prevalent in this representative Chinese adult general population with substantial sex difference. Four MRFs (overweight/obesity, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and sedentary behavior) accounted for a notable proportion of hyperuricemia cases. The PAF estimations enable the exploration of the expected proportion of hyperuricemia cases that could be prevented if the MRFs were removed, which warrants the public health significance of life-style intervention.

Keywords: alcohol consumption; attributable fraction; body mass index; cigarette smoking; sedentary behavior; serum uric acid.

Figure 1

Stimulation analysis on the effect of changed modifiable risk factors on the prevalence of hyperuricemia. PAF, population attributable fraction; HUA, hyperuricemia.