Serum uric Acid as a predictor for the development of nonalcoholic Fatty liver disease in apparently healthy subjects: a 5-year retrospective cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the relationship between hyperuricemia and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by comparing the incidence rates of NAFLD in relation to serum uric acid levels in apparently healthy subjects during a 5-year period.


METHODS
Among 15,638 healthy Korean subjects who participated in a health-screening program in 2003 and 2008, respectively, 4954 subjects without other risk factors were enrolled in this study. We compared the incidence rates of NAFLD in 2008 with respect to baseline uric acid levels.


RESULTS
In 2003, serum uric acid levels were categorized into the following quartiles: 0.6-3.9, 3.9-4.8, 4.8-5.9, and 5.9-12.6 mg/dL. The incidence of NAFLD in 2008 increased with the level of baseline uric acid (5.6%, 9.8%, 16.2%, and 20.9%, respectively; p<0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that hyperuricemia was associated with the development of NAFLD. When compared to the subjects in quartile 1, the odds ratio (OR) for the incidence of NAFLD for quartiles 2, 3, and 4 were 1.53 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-2.16; p=0.014], 1.69 (95% CI, 1.17-2.44; p=0.005), and 1.84 (95% CI, 1.25-2.71; p=0.002), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
High serum uric acid levels appear to be associated with an increased risk of the development of NAFLD.
Lee
Jae Woong
JW
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Cho
Yong Kyun
YK
Ryan
Mc
M
Kim
Hyang
H
Lee
Seung Won
SW
Chang
Eugene
E
Joo
Kwan Joong
KJ
Kim
Jung Tae
JT
Kim
Bum Soo
BS
Sung
Ki Chul
KC