Prevalence and Determinants of Hyperuricemia in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Attending Jimma Medical Center, Southwestern Ethiopia, 2019

Objective: To assess the prevalence and determinants of hyperuricemia among type 2 diabetic patients on follow-up at Jimma Medical Center from March 1 to June 30, 2019.

Methods: This institution-based cross-sectional study was used to assess the level of serum uric acid in type 2 diabetic patients attending their follow-up at Jimma Medical Center chronic illness clinic. A systematic sampling technique was used to include 287 type 2 diabetic patients in the study and an interviewer-based questionnaire was used to collect important data from each participant. Five milliliters of blood were collected from each participant under sterile conditions and serum was separated by centrifugation at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes. Serum was stored at -20°C and analyzed for serum uric acid using an ABX Pentra 400 clinical chemistry analyzer. Bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression were used to assess significant associations between hyperuricemia and independent factors. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant in the final model.

Results: The mean±SD age of the study participants was 51.79±14.36 years. The prevalence of hyperuricemia was found to be 22% (n=66/287) in the study population. Hyperuricemia was common in those aged ≥60 years and males. Obesity (AOR=7.84, 95% CI=2.005-30.666), duration of diabetes mellitus (DM) ≥10 years (AOR=3.963, 95% CI=1.902-8.259), family history of CVD (AOR=2.929, 95% CI=1.124-7.630), alcohol drinking (AOR=5.83, 95% CI=2.341-14.545) and increased DBP (AOR=4.198, 95% CI=1.772-9.949) were determinant variables for hyperuricemia in type 2 DM.

Conclusion: Hyperuricemia was relatively common among type 2 diabetic patients. The prevalence of hyperuricemia was common among patients with obesity, a long duration of DM and increased diastolic blood pressure, and alcohol drinkers. There is a need to raise awareness of lifestyle modification, healthy behavior and early diagnosis of hyperuricemia in type 2 diabetic patients.