Prevalence of hyperuricemia in Bangkok population.

To investigate the prevalence of hyperuricemia in general Thai population and to evaluate its association with metabolic syndrome. A total of 1,945 subjects who sought for routine annual health checkup in our hospital from 1 October 2009 to 31 March 2010 were enrolled into the study. Inclusion criteria were healthy individuals, aged ≥35 years old, and lived in Bangkok for over 10 years. Data of general health status, age, gender, history of alcoholic consumption, body weight, height, and waist circumference were obtained by an interview-structured questionnaire. Fasting blood sample was collected from each subject early in the morning for uric acid, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose levels. The prevalence of hyperuricemia in our study population was 24.4%, being significantly more common in men than women (59% vs. 11%, p < 0.001). The condition was also associated with various features of high body mass index or waist circumference, alcohol consumption, dyslipidemia, and high fasting blood glucose. Metabolic syndrome was found in 35% and 23% of men and women with hyperuricemia; direct relationship between level of uric acid and prevalence of metabolic syndrome was observed. Hyperuricemia is common among Bangkok population in our study. This disorder is frequently associated with metabolic syndrome.