An Increase in Normal SUA Level Within the Normal Range Predicts Risk of Metabolic Syndrome, Especially in Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study was aimed to evaluate the relationship between normal serum uric acid (SUA) level and metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk. This cross-sectional study involved 1914 subjects with MetS and 3 659 healthy controls aged 18-79 years. All participants filled out questionnaires and underwent physical examination and blood sample collection for biochemical examination. Demographic and clinical characteristics data were analyzed by t-test or chi-squared test. Normal SUA levels were divided into quartiles. Associations between quartiles of normal SUA level and the risk of MetS were explored using logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Values of age, waist circumference, blood lipid, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, SUA, and body mass index were all higher in subjects with MetS than that of healthy controls significantly. The frequency of MetS increased with SUA level within the normal range. Compared with Q1, the risk of MetS was greater in the other quartiles of SUA level in men (OR, 1.495-2.288); this difference was significant for Q3 and Q4 (p<0.05), but not for Q2. Among women, the risk of MetS also increased with SUA level within the normal range, with all differences showing statistical significance (p<0.05). The area under the ROC curve of normal SUA level for MetS presence was larger for women than for men. In conclusion, the results provide support for the use of normal SUA level as a contributing clinical predictor of MetS, especially in women.