title: Serum uric Acid as a predictor for the development of nonalcoholic Fatty liver disease in apparently healthy subjects: a 5-year retrospective cohort study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Woong
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yong Kyun
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Mc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Hyang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Kwan Joong
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: Jung Tae
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Bum Soo
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ki Chul
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Sung