To analyze the correlation between hyperuricemia and obesity in young college students.

A total of 19 673 students receiving enrolment physical examinations in Nanjing University from 2018 to 2019 were included in the study. The subjects were divided into underweight, normal, overweight, and obesity groups according to their body mass index. Fasting blood were taken to detect alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum uric acid, urea nitrogen, and creatinine. The differences between serum uric acid and metabolic parameters among different groups as well as the correlation between body mass index and hyperuricemia were analyzed by using multivariate linear regression and logistic regression analysis.

The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 32.35% for the college students, while for the males it reached up to 57.30% that was significantly higher than female ones (6.51%, P<0.01). With the increasing of body mass index, the prevalence of hyperuricemia increased significantly(P_trend<0.01), as well as serum uric acid in both male and female students (P_trend<0.01). Serum uric acid was positively correlated with body mass index in both genders(P<0.01). The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval(CI) for overweight, obesity, and underweight body mass index groups were 2.30(95%CI 1.99-2.66), 4.35(95%CI 3.22-5.89), and 0.70(95%CI 0.60-0.82), respectively, compared to the normal body mass index group by adjusting possible factors such as gender, age, ALT, urea nitrogen, creatinine, as well asestimated glomerular filtration rate.

The prevalence of hyperuricemia in young students is high. Obesity seems to be an independent risk factor of hyperuricemia.

Obesity; Body mass index; Hyperuricemia; Prevalence