Vol. 6, Issue 1, Part A (2024)

Background: Cardiometabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions, including obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and hyperglycemia, which collectively increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Recent evidence suggests that elevated uric acid levels may be an independent risk factor for cardiometabolic disorders, potentially serving as the sixth criterion for cardiometabolic syndrome.
Objective: This study aims to evaluate the role of uric acid in cardiometabolic health, examining its association with traditional cardiometabolic risk factors and exploring its potential inclusion as a diagnostic criterion for cardiometabolic syndrome.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 500 adults aged 30-65 years. Participants were recruited from a community health clinic and underwent comprehensive health assessments, including measurements of serum uric acid levels, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, fasting glucose, lipid profile, and insulin sensitivity. Statistical analyses were performed to examine the relationship between uric acid levels and cardiometabolic risk factors, and to evaluate whether elevated uric acid levels are predictive of cardiometabolic syndrome.
Results: Elevated uric acid levels were significantly associated with higher BMI, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and insulin resistance. Participants in the highest quartile of uric acid levels had a 1.8-fold increased risk of meeting the criteria for cardiometabolic syndrome compared to those in the lowest quartile (p < 0.01). The inclusion of uric acid as a sixth criterion improved the predictive accuracy for identifying individuals at high risk for cardiometabolic syndrome.
Conclusion: Uric acid plays a significant role in cardiometabolic health and is strongly associated with traditional risk factors for cardiometabolic syndrome. The findings support the potential inclusion of uric acid as the sixth criterion for diagnosing cardiometabolic syndrome, which could enhance early identification and intervention strategies for at-risk individuals.