Relationship between serum uric acid levels with chronic kidney disease in a Southeast Asian population

Elevated serum uric level has been suggested as a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD). The relationship between serum uric acid level, and CKD in a Southeast Asian population was examined.

In a cross-sectional study, authors surveyed 5618 subjects, but 5546 participants were included. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) values were calculated by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation. CKD was defined as a GFR of less than 60 mL/min per 1.73 m(2). Multivariate binary logistic regression was used to determine the association between serum uric acid level and CKD.

The prevalence of CKD in serum uric acid quartiles: first quartile, 5.3 mg/dL or less; second quartile, 5.4-6.4 mg/dL; third quartile, 6.5-7.6 mg/dL; and fourth quartile, 7.7 mg/dL or more were 1.8%, 3.6%, 5.5% and 11.9%, respectively (P < 0.001). The mean values of estimated GFR in participants with CKD and without CKD were 53.44 +/- 7.72 and 81.26 +/- 12.48 mL/min per 1.73 m(2) respectively. In the entire participants, there were 6.76% with hypertension and 2.64% with diabetes as a comorbid disease. Compared with serum uric acid first quartile, the multivariate-adjusted odds for CKD of the fourth, third and second quartile were 10.94 (95% confidence interval (CI), 6.62-16.08), 4.17 (95% CI, 2.51-6.92) and 2.38 (95% CI, 1.43-3.95), respectively.

High serum uric acid level was independently associated with increased prevalence of CKD in the Southeast Asian population. Detection and treatment of hyperuricaemia should be attended as a strategy to prevent CKD.