9193 Higher Serum Uric Acid Levels Are Associated With a Deleterious Metabolic and Inflammatory Profile in Brazilian Adolescents: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Analysis
Authors: Iorra Fernando Q , Guahnon Marina P , Rodrigues Paula G , Barcelos Adriano T , Cureau Felipe V , Drehmer Michele , Schaan Beatriz D 
Published: October 2024

Disclosure: F.Q. Iorra: None. M.P. Guahnon: None. P.G. Rodrigues: None. A.T. Barcelos: None. F.V. Cureau: None. M. Drehmer: None. B.D. Schaan: None.

Introduction: The association of high serum uric acid (sUA) with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components have been widely studied, but there are still gaps in how this breakdown product of purine metabolism might refine cardiovascular risk assessment and correlate with other cardiovascular disease biomarkers, especially in children and adolescents. Objective: To evaluate if sUA is associated with metabolic syndrome components and inflammatory markers in Brazilian adolescents. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, 786 individuals aged 12 to 17 years old, previously enrolled in the Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents (ERICA) - a Brazilian nationwide school based study, and who were from the city of Porto Alegre, had their sUA measured from blood samples that were stored in a biorepository. Anthropometric, biochemical and blood pressure data were collected. MetS diagnosis was based on the International Diabetes Federation age-specific criteria (2005), and insulin resistance was assessed by the HOMA-IR. In accordance with a non-parametric distribution, sUA was divided into quartiles (3.7 mg/dL, 4.4 mg/dL, 5.3 mg/dL for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles, respectively) for the analysis. A linear regression model and a Poisson regression model with robust error variance were used, both adjusted for age, sex and skin color. Results: Participants were 14.8 ± 1.5 years-old, predominantly women (61.7%), self-identified as white skin color (72%) and eutrophic (66.9%). Through the linear regression model, significant positive associations were found between high sUA levels and body mass index Z-score, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HOMA-IR and C-reactive protein, and significant negative associations were observed for HDL cholesterol and adiponectin. No association was found between sUA and glucose or HbA1c. We also computed a metabolic risk score as the mean Z score of waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, HDL cholesterol (negative Z score), triglycerides and glucose, which was positive related to sUA (β ± SE = 0.13 ± 0.02; p &lt; 0.001). Finally, the Poisson regression model was applied to estimate the prevalence ratios (PR) for MetS and its components, between adolescents with sUA in the 4th quartile to those in the 1st quartile. An association was observed for MetS (PR 6.37, 95% CI 1.39 - 29.21, p 0.017), high waist circumference (PR 4.61, 95% CI 2.55 - 8.36, p &lt; 0.001) and increased triglycerides (PR 4.76, 95% CI 1.47 - 15.44, p 0.009). Conclusion: High sUA levels were associated with a worse metabolic and inflammatory profile, as well as a greater prevalence of MetS and some of its components in adolescents. Therefore, uric acid should be considered as a potential additional marker of cardiovascular risk in this population. Support: CNPq, CAPES, FIPE, FAPERGS.

Presentation: 6/1/2024