Is Serum Uric Acid an Added Risk Factor for Micro-Vascular Complications of Diabetes Mellitus? – A Prospective Study

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Diabetes is the leading cause of adult blindnessdue to retinopathy, end stage renal disease due to nephropathyand foot ulcers and lower limb amputation due to neuropathy.Serum uric acid levels independently predict the developmentof micro vascular complications. In this study, we analysethe association of serum uric acid with the micro vascularcomplications of diabetes.Material and methods: In this hospital based observationalstudy, hundred diabetic patients were included; of which fiftyhad micro vascular complications, the remaining fifty had nocomplications. Blood investigations including fasting(FBS)and post prandial blood sugars(PPBS), glycosylatedhaemoglobin (HbA1C), and serum creatinine and serumuric acid were done in all patients. All the parameters werecompared between the two groups.Results: Females presented with significantly highercomplications as compared to males. The mean age of thepatients presented with and without complications was 56.4± 9.3 and 59.9 ± 10.3 respectively. HbA1C had a positivecorrelation with the serum uric acid (SUA) (r=0.327, P =0.001). Mean uric acid levels were higher among patientswith complications (5.96 ± 2.16) compared to patients withoutcomplications (4.95 ± 2.04) which was statistically significant(P value =0.021). Patients with nephropathy and neuropathyhad significant elevation in serum uric acid levels than thosewithout; however this significance was not noted in those withretinopathy.Conclusion: Patients with micro vascular complications hadhigher levels of serum uric acid compared to those withoutcomplications. Also there was positive correlation betweenHbA1C and serum uric acid levels