title: A possible role of serum uric acid as a marker of metabolic syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The association between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and metabolic syndrome (MetS) has recently been reported in several cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. We investigated SUA as a biomarker to predict future development of MetS in healthy Korean men without diabetes or hypertension and determined the optimal cut-off levels of SUA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from healthy men who received a general health check-up in 2003. A total of 1809 participants free of MetS, diabetes and hypertension was enrolled. Participants were classified into three groups based on SUA levels: group 1 (<5.5 mg/dL), group 2 (5.5-6.9 mg/dL) and group 3 (≥7.0 mg/dL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  During 13,802 person-years of follow up, 127 participants developed MetS. After adjusting for multiple associated parameters, SUA was significantly associated with incident MetS (hazard ratios comparing groups 2 and 3 vs group 1, 2.45 and 3.47 respectively; P < 0.001). In receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the optimal cut-off level for SUA to predict the development of MetS was 6.5 mg/dL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that an increased level of SUA, even within the normal range, is associated with future development of MetS in healthy middle-aged men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Y-J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D064368:Healthy Volunteers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D033461:Hyperuricemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014527:Uric Acid
keywords: cohort study; incidence; metabolic syndrome; risk factor; uric acid