Higher uric acid associated with elevated IL‑6 and IL‑1β levels in older inpatients: a cross‑sectional study

Previous studies have shown the role of uric acid in triggering inflammatory reactions through its influence on a large group of cytokines. Therefore, searching for possible relationships between treating hyperuricemia and the course of inflammatory processes may provide valuable knowledge for clinical practice. The study was designed to determine the relationship between uric acid levels and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1-beta (IL-1 beta) levels determined in older adults during hospitalization. Patients were assigned to different study groups based on the uric acid levels and effectiveness, lack of treatment, or recognition of hyperuricemia. Classical variance analysis methods or nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for statistical analysis. The analysis showed different correlations between the concentration of uric acid and the mentioned interleukins and designated study groups. In the case of properly treated hyperuricemia, a weak negative correlation is observed between the level of uric acid and interleukin IL-1β. There is a statistically significant positive correlation between the value of uric acid and interleukins IL-6 and IL-1β in people with untreated hyperuricemia and, to a lesser extent, in people with normal uric acid levels. The study's results suggest that effective treatment may be associated with appropriate control of uric acid concentration and modulation of the inflammatory response. However, due to several measurement limitations, further research is warranted to better elucidate these associations.