Umukundwa Ruth, Akimana Elyse, Nsanzimana Vedaste, Mapira Herbert Tendayi, Musarurwa Cuthbert
Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, 3286, Rwanda.
Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52727, South Korea.
Open Access Rheumatol. 2024 Nov 26;16:147-156. doi: 10.2147/OARRR.S495467. eCollection 2024.
Hyperuricemia, a precursor to gout, and rheumatoid factor positivity (RF), an autoantibody linked to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but also present in various conditions and healthy adults, hold significant health implications, including potential links to cardiovascular diseases and metabolic risks. In Rwanda, data on these conditions in individuals aged 35 and above are lacking. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hyperuricemia and RF positivity in patients aged 35 and above in Huye district of Rwanda.
We conducted a cross-sectional study from October 2023 to January 2024, enrolling 367 patients from Huye and Matyazo Health Centers. We measured rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP), and serum uric acid levels, and evaluated risk factors using structured questionnaires.
Among the patients, 38.1% had hyperuricemia, with 9.8% RF positivity and 3.3% CRP positivity. Hyperuricemia was more prevalent in older patients (p = 0.045) and females (p = 0.001). Notably, 12% of hyperuricemic patients had positive RF results.
This study reveals high hyperuricemia rates and low RF/CRP positivity in patients aged 35 and above, with women and older individuals being more affected. The co-occurrence of hyperuricemia and RF has significant health impacts, highlighting the need for further research on metabolic disorders linked to hyperuricemia to inform better interventions. Our findings underscore the importance of addressing the conditions associated with these abnormalities to improve health outcomes in Rwanda's aging population.
高尿酸血症是痛风的先兆，类风湿因子阳性（RF）是一种与类风湿关节炎（RA）相关的自身抗体，但也存在于各种情况及健康成年人中，具有重大的健康影响，包括与心血管疾病和代谢风险的潜在联系。在卢旺达，缺乏35岁及以上人群中这些病症的数据。本研究旨在确定卢旺达胡耶区35岁及以上患者中高尿酸血症和RF阳性的患病率。
我们于2023年10月至2024年1月进行了一项横断面研究，招募了来自胡耶健康中心和马蒂亚佐健康中心的367名患者。我们测量了类风湿因子（RF）、C反应蛋白（CRP）和血清尿酸水平，并使用结构化问卷评估了风险因素。
在这些患者中，38.1%患有高尿酸血症，9.8%为RF阳性，3.3%为CRP阳性。高尿酸血症在老年患者（p = 0.045）和女性（p = 0.001）中更为普遍。值得注意的是，12%的高尿酸血症患者RF结果呈阳性。
本研究揭示了35岁及以上患者中高尿酸血症发生率高，而RF/CRP阳性率低，女性和老年人受影响更大。高尿酸血症和RF的共存对健康有重大影响，突出了对与高尿酸血症相关的代谢紊乱进行进一步研究以提供更好干预措施的必要性。我们的研究结果强调了应对与这些异常相关的病症以改善卢旺达老年人口健康结果的重要性。
