Hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome in children with overweight and obesity

To study the prevalence of hyperuricemia in children with overweight or obesity and analyze the relation with metabolic syndrome and the diseases that define it.

This is a cross-sectional prevalence study in 148 children recruited from pediatric endocrinology consultation, with overweight or obesity (12±3 years, 48% boys, BMI 31.8±6.1). We measured BMI, waist-height, waist circumference, blood pressure with standard instrumentation and glucose (fasting and after overload with 75 g), insulin resistance, cholesterol HDL, triglycerides and uric acid.

The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 53%. Patients with hyperuricemia had greater BMI (33.9 vs 30.6, p=0.003), plus waist circumference (101.4 vs 91.1cm, p<0.001), higher blood pressure: systolic (123.4 vs 111.9 mm Hg, p<0.001), diastolic (78.2 vs 68.7 mm Hg, p<0.001). They presented greater blood glucose after overload oral glucose (107.5 vs 100.7 mg/dl, p=0.03), insulin was higher (29.2 vs 20.7 mg/dl, p=0.001) as well as HOMA IR (6.5 vs 4.4, p<0.001) and HDL levels were lower (49.5 vs 54.4 mg/dl, p=0.02). Uric acid's level which most is the likely diagnosis of metabolic syndrome corresponds to 5.4 mg/dl in our sample (sensitivity: 64% and specificity 62%).

The prevalence of hyperuricemia in children with overweight and obesity is high. In the group of patients with obesity and hyperuricemia, we found out that the parameters measured to diagnose with metabolic syndrome were less favorable. Uric acid's level from where there is a higher possibility to see metabolic syndrome is 5.4 mg/dl.