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Prevalence and risk factors associated with hyperuricemia among working population at high altitudes: a cross-sectional study in Western China

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Abstract

Chronic exposure to high altitude may lead to hyperuricemia. We investigated the prevalence of hyperuricemia and its risk factors among employees in high-altitude areas. A cross-sectional survey with cluster sampling was performed at 23 worksites on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Subjects were evaluated by using questionnaires, anthropometric and laboratory measurements, and abdominal ultrasound. A multilevel logistic regression model and restricted cubic spline were used to explore the associated factors of hyperuricemia. Of the 4198 employees included in the study, the age-standardized prevalence of hyperuricemia was 28.1% (95% confidence interval (CI) 26.7–29.5), with 31.9% (95%CI 30.2–33.6) in men and 17.9% (95%CI 15.7–20.1) in women. Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and a meat-food pattern were positively associated with hyperuricemia in both sexes, while diabetes, shift work, body mass index, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and low intake of fruits and vegetables were significantly associated with hyperuricemia only in men. Furthermore, a nonlinear dose-response association between the number of cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs) and hyperuricemia was observed. Compared with those having 0 CRFs, the full-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95%CIs for 1, 2, and ≥ 3 CRFs were 1.76 (95%CI 1.25–2.47), 2.54 (95%CI 1.81–3.55), and 3.05 (95%CI 2.16–4.31) in men, respectively, and 2.13 (95%CI 1.43–3.17), 2.78 (95%CI 1.71–4.53), and 3.13 (95%CI 1.50–6.55) in women, respectively. Hyperuricemia is common in employees at high-altitude areas. However, working at higher altitudes does not mean necessarily higher risk of hyperuricemia, as dietary factors and clustered CRFs are more significant. Thus, workplace-based lifestyle modifications should be promoted.

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Abbreviations

SUA:

Serum uric acid

CRFs:

Cardiovascular risk factors

BP:

Blood pressure

BMI:

Body mass index

SBP:

Systolic blood pressure

DBP:

Diastolic blood pressure

TC:

Total cholesterol

TG:

Triglycerides

FBG:

Fasting blood glucose

NAFLD:

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

OR:

Odds ratio

CI:

Confidence interval

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge all the employees who participated in the study and investigators for their valuable help in data collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China

    Yang Shen, Yanling Wang, Chun Chang, Weihao Li & Bingying Ni

  2. Division of Prevention and Community Health, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100037, China

    Suning Li

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  1. Yang Shen
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  2. Yanling Wang
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  3. Chun Chang
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  4. Suning Li
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  5. Weihao Li
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Contributions

CC and YW conceived and designed the study, YS analyzed the data and wrote the paper, CC reviewed and edited the paper, SL helped in preparing the database and helped in the data analysis, WL and BN edited the paper, and all authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Chun Chang.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Shen, Y., Wang, Y., Chang, C. et al. Prevalence and risk factors associated with hyperuricemia among working population at high altitudes: a cross-sectional study in Western China. Clin Rheumatol 38, 1375–1384 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-018-4391-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-018-4391-9

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