Korean J Fam Pract.  2020 Jun;10(3):208-214. 10.21215/kjfp.2020.10.3.208.

Relationship between Serum Uric Acid Level and Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Korea Adults: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017

• Lim S
• Moon N

• KMID: 2502989
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21215/kjfp.2020.10.3.208

Abstract

Background
Over the last few decades, the incidence of hyperuricemia has increased. Recently, the incidences of gout and asymptomatic hyperuricemia have been rapidly increasing in Korea. A correlation between serum uric acid (SUA) level and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol has already been identified, but it has been rarely studied in the Korean population. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between serum uric acid level and LDL cholesterol using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2017).
Methods
This was a cross-sectional study of 8,127 Korean adults aged 19–79 years. Individuals were cancer excluded. Participants were classified as having hyperuricemia if SUA levels were ≥7.0 mg/dL in men and ≥6.0 mg/dL in women. The correlation between SUA level and LDL cholesterol was analyzed by complex sample linear regression analysis.
Results
In men, LDL cholesterol was higher in participants with hyperuricemia (120.6±1.61) than in normal individuals (114.3±0.84) (P<0.001). In women, LDL cholesterol was higher in participants with hyperuricemia (125.6±3.25) than in normal individuals (117.6±0.69) (P=0.0149). We used 3 models with progressive degrees of adjustment. Model 1 was adjusted for age, gender, alcohol, smoking, and body mass index. Model 2 was further adjusted for hypertension and diabetes. Model 3 was further adjusted for dyslipidemia, stroke, myocardial infarction or angina, and liver cirrhosis. After adjusting for potential confounders, LDL cholesterol was higher in the hyperuricemic group than in the normal group (P<0.001).
Conclusion
The study results confirm that a positive correlation exists between serum uric acid level and LDL cholesterol.

Keyword

Uric Acid; Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol; Lipid Profile; Korean Adults