Serum uric acid level and its association with metabolic indicators among preschool children

  Objective  To explore serum uric acid (SUA) level, its potential influencing factors, and its association with body mass index (BMI), serum glucose and lipids among preschool children in Tianjin city.

  Methods  A total of 4 073 children aged 3 – 6 years were selected from 26 kindergartens in urban Tianjin, China with cluster sampling for a cross-sectional survey from March to June 2015. Height, weight, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and SUA were measured.

  Results  The mean SUA level was 243.02 μmol/L (standard deviation SD:53.25 μmol/L) for all the children and the proportion of the children with the SUA of higher than 310 μmol/L was 10.14 % . The mean SUA was significantly higher among the small boys than among the small girls (247.26 μmol/L SD:53.68 μmol/Lvs. 238.33 μmol/LSD:52.37 μmol/L) (P < 0.001). The mean SUA, FPG, and TG were significantly higher among the overweight or obese children than among those with normal body weight (P < 0.05 for all). The results of linear regression showed that the SUA was significantly associated positively with BMI and TG after adjusting for age and gender (both P < 0.05), with an increased BMI of 1 kg/m² for the increased SUA of 4.092 μmol/L. The linear regression analyses on data of subgroups revealed significantly positive associations of SUA with FPG and TG only among obese children (both P < 0.05), with the increased FPG of 15.932 μmol/L and TG of 13.809 μmol/L for one mmol/L increment of SUA.

  Conclusion  The prevalence of hyperuricemia among urban Tianjin children aged 3 – 6 years was relatively high. BMI, FG, and TG levels are associated with higher SUA levels among the children, especially in the obese children.