The association between serum uric acid to high density lipoprotein ratio and cardiometabolic-related risk in adults with obesity.

INTRODUCTION

The uric acid (UA) to high density lipoproteins (HDL) ratio (UHR) has recently emerged as a new effective biomarker for inflammation and cardiometabolic diseases. However, the relationship between UHR and the metabolic syndrome and its components and other cardiometabolic parameters in individuals with obesity remains to be further investigated.

AIM

To evaluate UHR levels in participants with obesity, as well correlation of UHR with other cardiometabolic risk factors. Moreover, the predictive value of UHR for insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and visceral adiposity (estimated by using waist circumference) was evaluated, also with respect to UHR components (UA and HDL alone).

METHODS

Participants were enrolled from the Center of Obesity and Work, Occupational Health Unit of Clinica del Lavoro "L. Devoto", Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan (Italy) and divided into two groups according to body mass index (BMI) values; controls (when BMI < 30 kg/m) and participants with obesity (when BMI ≥ 30 kg/m).

RESULTS

A total of 1743 (1268 females, mean age 52 ± 14 years) was enrolled in the study. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated a significant association between obesity and UHR (odds ratio (95% confidence intervals) p value; 1.1 (1-1.1) < 0.01) after adjustment for different biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of UHR was significantly larger compared with the use of HDL or UA alone for insulin resistance (0.73, 0.3 and 0.67, respectively), metabolic syndrome (0.77, 0.26 and 0.69, respectively) and waist circumference (0.65, 0.37 and 0.62, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Elevated UHR, better than UA or HDL alone, demonstrates a significant correlation with obesity and cardiometabolic parameters, so it could be used as a potential indicator of cardiometabolic risk in this clinical setting.