Hyperuricemia in Saudi Arabia

The objective of this prospective study was to determine the prevalence of hyperuricemia and gout in a sample of Saudi individuals and their relationship to certain risk factors, namely, obesity, serum glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, age, and sex. A total of 487 Saudis (250 males and 237 females) from 14 primary care clinics were interviewed, examined, and investigated. The mean age for the males was 46.89 +/- 17.01 years (range 14-83) and for the females 45.08 +/- 13.67 years (range 21-80). Serum uric acid (SUA) values above 420 micromol/l for males and 360 micromol/l for females were considered to be high. Of the 487 individuals, 41 (8.42%; 20 males and 21 females) had hyperuricemia. The mean SUA was 308.41 +/- 90.64 micromol/l for males and 254.59 +/- 85.79 micromol/l for females. In females, uric acid levels correlated significantly with age, body mass index (BMI), serum creatinine, and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), but not with serum cholesterol or triglycerides. In males, uric acid levels only correlated significantly with BMI and serum creatinine. No case of gout was found.