Prevalence and Clinical Predictors of Hyperuricemia in Chinese Bariatric Surgery Patients

Abstract

Background: Despite a known significant association between hyperuricemia and obesity, this correlation in bariatric surgery patients remains unknown.

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence and predictors of pre- and postoperative hyperuricemia in Chinese bariatric surgery patients.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed in 333 bariatric surgery patients from our hospital. The clinical data was collected before surgery and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Univariable and multivariate analyses were used for investigating the independent predictors of hyperuricemia and serum uric acid (SUA) change.

Results: Altogether, 62.9% of patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for hyperuricemia. The prevalence of hyperuricemia among males was 81.8% and 62.3% in the women. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that age (OR = 0.951, 95%CI:0.926-0.976, P = 0.000), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) (OR = 0.217, 95%CI:0.074-0.637, P = 0.005), γ-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT) (OR = 1.016, 95%CI:1.004-1.027, P = 0.006), and creatinine (Cr) (OR = 1.042, 95%CI: 1.017-1.067, P = 0.001) were independent predictors of hyperuricemia. SUA levels significantly declined in all patients from 443.1 ± 118.2 μmol/L before surgery to 370.1 + 113.4 μmol/L at 12 months after surgery. The prevalence of hyperuricemia also declined from 69.4% before surgery to 25.5% at 12 months. Multiple linear regression analyses confirmed that changes in Cr and body mass index (BMI) were independent predictors of a decrease in SUA levels, 12 months postoperatively.

Conclusions: Hyperuricemia in Chinese bariatric surgery candidates are common, especially in males. Age, HDL-c, γ-GT and Cr were determined to be independent predictors of hyperuricemia. Bariatric surgery may effectively reduce the prevalence of hyperuricemia in this population, through postoperative weight loss and changes in creatinine following the procedure.

Keywords: Bariatric surgery; Hyperuricemia; Serum uric acid.