Risk Factors for Undiagnosed Hyperuricemia and Gout: Influence of Personal Characteristics, Life Style and Cardio-Metabolic Status: A Cross Sectional Study

Despite the increasing prevalence of hyperuricemia in the general population and its association with many diseases, serum uric acid (SUA) level has not been routinely determined in the evaluation and management of patients, especially those with metabolic disorders. This cross-sectional study used standard methods to assess the influence of personal characteristics, lifestyle and cardio-metabolic status on SUA levels of patients who visited a primary care center in Southern Nigeria. Forty-nine point seven percent of participants were hyperuricemic. Significant association and higher odds for hyperuricemia were found among participants who were married (Odd Ratio (OR)=2.24,95%Confidence interval (C.I) 1.947-5.303), dehydrated (OR=1.46,C.I 0.845-2.535), currently consuming alcohol (OR=5.199, C.I 4.249-69.623), with poor dietary habits (OR=1.23,C.I0.982-7.2356), physically inactive (OR=2.760,C.I 0.294-25.881), night clubbing (OR=3.09,C.I3.22-12.982), frequently drinking soft/sweet drinks (OR=3.42,C.I 2.01-10.29), abnormal anthropometric profile (OR=1.27,CI 1.094-1.485) for BMI and OR=1.52,C.I 0.874-2.656) for waist circumference) and metabolic disorders including hypertension (OR=1.60,C.I 1.280-2.008), T2DM (OR=1.27,C.I 1.089-1.474), dyslipidemia and musculoskeletal disorders (OR=3.26,C.I1.633-6.492). Demographic factors, poor lifestyle habits, abnormal adiposity and metabolic aberrations drive hyperuricemia and therefore underline the need for SUA evaluation and management among those with these characteristics to prevent associated diseases