Factors Associated with Hyperuricaemia in a Tertiary Care Center in Ghana
Frank B. Micah, Bernard C. Nkum, Francis A Yeboah, E. Timmy-Donkoh

Abstract
Background
Hyperuricemia is known to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The condition has been poorly researched in Sub-Saharan Africa and Ghana in particular.The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of hyperuricaemia among metabolic conditions in a tertiary care center in Ghanaand the association of serum uric acid (SUA) with known demographic, anthropometric, and cardiovascular risk factors.
Methods
We designed a cross-sectional descriptive study comprising 372 subjects aged 20 years and above. Demographic and social data were obtained using a questionnaire. Anthropometric (height, weight, waist circumference) and blood pressure measurements were taken. Ten millilitres of venous blood samples were taken for SUA and other biochemistry investigations. Hyperuricaemia was defined asSUA  0.36 mmol/L in females and  0.42 mmol/L for males.
Results
One hundred and forty five men and 227 women participated in the study. The mean (SD) SUA level was 367.8 (110.2) μmol/L for men and 312.1 (108.8) μmol/L for women. The overall prevalence of hyperuricaemia was 29.8% (Males 30.3% vs. Females 29.5%, p = 0.87) .Measures of obesity, hypertensionand diabetes were significant predictors of uric acid levels in univariate analyses. In multivariate linear regression analysis, after adjusting for age and sex, uric acid level was still associated with BMI (r=4.92, p<0.001) and SBP (r=0.89, p<0.01).
Conclusions
Obesity, diabetes mellitus and hypertension were all significant predictors of hyperuricaemia. These observations call for subsequent studies into the clinical importance of treating hyperuricaemia among patients with cardiovascular complications.

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