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Prevalence of hyperuricemia and its associated factors in the general Korean population: an analysis of a population-based nationally representative sample

Clinical Rheumatology volume 37, pages 2529–2538 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Hyperuricemia is not only a risk factor for gout but also an independent determinant of hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney diseases. Although the incidence of gout in Korean adults is increasing, epidemiologic studies on hyperuricemia in the general Korean population are limited. Thus, this study aimed at evaluating the prevalence of hyperuricemia and its associated factors among non-institutionalized Korean adults. The present study included 5548 participants (2403 men and 3145 women) aged ≥ 19 years from The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Based on the new 2016 census data, the age-standardized prevalence and mean uric acid level were calculated using the chi-square test and t test, respectively. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the risk factors associated with hyperuricemia. The age-standardized prevalence of hyperuricemia and mean uric acid level in the general Korean population was 11.4% (17.0% in men and 5.9% in women) and 5.1 mg/dL (5.83 mg/dL in men and 4.36 mg/dL in women), respectively. The prevalence of hyperuricemia was high in young Korean adults, and a U-shaped association was observed between hyperuricemia and age. While obesity, metabolic syndrome, renal impairment, and low-grade inflammation were positively associated with hyperuricemia in both sexes, alcohol consumption, education, and current smoking status had a positive association with hyperuricemia only in women. Hyperuricemia is prevalent in the young population in Korea, and special efforts are necessary to reduce the potential harmful effects of hyperuricemia on the health of adults, particularly the younger-generation adults, in Korea.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kosin University Gospel Hospital, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea

    Yunkyung Kim & Geun-Tae Kim

  2. Department of Family Medicine, Kosin University Gospel Hospital, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea

    Jihun Kang

  3. Central Institute for Medical Research, Kosin University Gospel Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea

    Jihun Kang

Authors
  1. Yunkyung Kim
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  3. Geun-Tae Kim
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Correspondence to Geun-Tae Kim.

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The protocol of this study was approved by the institutional review board of the Kosin University Gospel Hospital (KUGH 2018-02-012), and this study was in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Furthermore, a written informed consent was obtained from all participants, and all study processes were in accordance with the guidelines of the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology.

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Kim, Y., Kang, J. & Kim, GT. Prevalence of hyperuricemia and its associated factors in the general Korean population: an analysis of a population-based nationally representative sample. Clin Rheumatol 37, 2529–2538 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-018-4130-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-018-4130-2

Keywords

  • Epidemiology
  • Hyperuricemia
  • KNHANES
  • Prevalence
  • Risk factors