Relationship between hyperuricemia (HUC) and metabolic syndrome (MS) in institutionalized elderly men

This study investigated the relationship between hyperuricemia (HUC) and the components of the metabolic syndrome (MS) among elderly institutionalized men. In addition, this study explored the relationship between HUC and serum inflammatory markers. A total of 333 participants from Chang-Hua Veterans Care Home were enrolled. The MS was defined using a modified ATP III definition issued in 2004 by the Bureau of Health Promotion, Department of Health, ROC (Taiwan). The participants' mean age was 78.6±3.9 years, and their mean serum uric acid level was 6.9±1.7 mg/dl. The prevalence of HUC was 46.2% (n = 154). The prevalence of the MS was 38.4% (n = 128). HUC was correlated with components of the MS, including waist circumference (WC), triglyceride (TG), and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) but it was not related to blood pressure (BP) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG). Moreover, increased serum creatinine, albumin, prealbumin, and body fat were also associated with HUC. The plasma activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels were significantly elevated in the HUC group, but serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), serum intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), serum levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), and P-selectin were not related to HUC. HUC in elderly men may represent poorer renal function, better nutritional status, and increased body fat.