The investigation of the level and influencing factors of serum uric acid among monks and nuns in Wutai Mountain area / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the level and the influencing factors of blood uric acid in monks and nuns in Wutai Mountain area, and to explore the relationship between blood uric acid level and BMI and blood lipids levels.Methods:Physical examinations and laboratory tests were performed on monks and nuns in Wutai Mountain area. There were 207 males and 261 females. Physical examination includes height, weight, blood pressure, blood uric acid, blood lipid, blood glucose and other indicators. The blood uric acid level was measured using the uricase method. Chi-square test for trend, and t test were utilized for statistical analysis. Results:The average blood uric acid level of the monk and the nun was (372±6) μmol/L and (290±4) μmol/L, respectively. Obviously, the average blood uric acid level of the monk was significantly higher than it in the nun ( t=11.636, P<0.01). The total incidence rate of hyperuricemia, which was diagnosed when the blood uric acid level was higher than 420 μmol/L in males and the blood uric acid level was higher than 360 μmol/L in females. In particular, the incidence rate of hyperuricemia was much higher in the monk (24.3%, 50/207) than in the nuns (13.4%, 35/261) ( χ2=8.966, P<0.01) . Analysis by age, the prevalence of hyperuricemia in men was 20.3%(42/207) before the age of 50, which was higher than that after the age of 50 (3.9%, 8/207) ( χ2=26.3, P< 0.01); The prevalence of hyperuricemia in women before the age of 50 was 2.7%(7/261), which was lower than that after the age of 50 (10.7%, 28/261) ( χ2=13.51, P<0.01). The uric acid level of men and women between 50-60 years old, showed the opposite trend. The level of uric acid in men decreased and increased in women. In addition, the prevalence of triglyceride abnormalities and overweight was more significantly in monks and nuns with high uric acid than those with the normal uric acid level [71.8%(61/85) vs 45.2%(173/383), χ2=19.68, P<0.01; 54.1%(46/85) vs 19.8%(76/383), χ2=42.4, P<0.01]; while no significant difference of total cholesterol and blood glucose levels was observed between these two groups. Conclusion:There are differences in blood uric acid levels among Wutai Mountain area monks and nuns of different ages and genders. The level of blood uric acid in male is significantly higher than that in female. Lipid metabolism and over weight are closely related to elevated level of the uric acid, which might be the risk factors of uric acid abnormality in Wutai Mountain population.