Association of Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity With Hyperuricemia and Sex Differences: Results From the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort Study

J Rheumatol. 2022 May;49(5):513-522. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.211180. Epub 2022 Feb 15.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the association of physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (ST; leisure and total ST), commuting mode with hyperuricemia in a multiethnic Chinese population, and to analyze the difference between sexes.

Methods: Baseline data were analyzed from 22,094 participants from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort study in the Yunnan region, China. PA and sedentary behavior were assessed through questionnaires. Hyperuricemia was defined as serum urate > 7.0 mg/dL among men and > 6.0 mg/dL among women. A restricted cubic spline (RCS) was created to model the possible nonlinear relationship of PA and ST with hyperuricemia. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI.

Results: Hyperuricemia prevalence in the observed population was 15.5% (men 25.5%, women 10.7%). Compared to those with light PA, participants with moderate-to-vigorous PA had lower odds of hyperuricemia (adjusted ORs were 0.85 [95% CI 0.77-0.94] and 0.88 [95% CI 0.79-0.97]). However, RCS showed a U-shaped nonlinear relationship between PA and hyperuricemia, and a linear relationship between hyperuricemia prevalence and increasing ST. Total ST ≥ 4 hours/day increased the risk of hyperuricemia in women but not in men. Mode of transportation revealed that sedentary behavior increased the risk of hyperuricemia, but there were inconsistent results based on sex.

Conclusion: Moderate PA may be more beneficial in reducing the risk of hyperuricemia. Reducing ST may have a greater effect on preventing hyperuricemia in females than in males.

Keywords: gender differences; hyperuricemia; physical activity; sedentary behavior.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • China / epidemiology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Exercise
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperuricemia* / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Sedentary Behavior*
  • Sex Characteristics