Higher serum uric acid as a risk factor for frailty in older adults: A nationwide population-based study

IF 9.4 1区医学 Q1 GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY

Journal of Cachexia Sarcopenia and Muscle Pub Date : 2024-08-18 DOI:10.1002/jcsm.13561

Min-gu Kang, Ji Yeon Baek, Yunju Jo, Dongryeol Ryu, Il-Young Jang, Hee-Won Jung, Beom-Jun Kim

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Uric acid (UA), the terminal breakdown product of purine metabolism, possesses contradictory roles, functioning both as an inflammatory mediator and as an antioxidant. Its clinical relevance, particularly in geriatric populations, remains a topic of ongoing debate. Aiming to elucidate whether circulating UA is detrimental or beneficial to human health, we investigate the association between serum UA concentrations and the frailty index—a comprehensive measure of biological aging in a nationally representative cohort of community-dwelling older adults.

Methods

We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study utilizing data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The sample included 4268 participants aged 65 years and above. A deficit accumulation frailty index (FI) was constructed using 38 items that assess physical, cognitive, psychological, and social domains. Based on the FI, participants were categorized into non-frail (FI ≤ 0.15), pre-frail (0.15 < FI ≤ 0.25), or frail (FI > 0.25). Serum UA levels were quantified through a colorimetric enzymatic assay.

Results

After controlling for confounders such as age, sex, socioeconomic status (including income and education level), lifestyle factors (smoking status), and medical history (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, stroke, cardiovascular diseases), and body mass index, serum UA levels were observed to be significantly higher in frail participants compared with their non-frail counterparts (P < 0.001). Furthermore, serum UA concentrations demonstrated a positive correlation with the FI (P < 0.001), and the odds ratio for frailty per 1 mg/dL increase in serum UA was 1.22 (P < 0.001). Additionally, older adults in the highest quartile of UA levels exhibited a significantly higher FI and 1.66-fold increased odds of frailty compared with those in the lowest quartile (P = 0.011 and P = 0.005, respectively).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that elevated circulating UA levels may act as a pro-aging factor rather than an anti-aging one in older adults, highlighting its potential role in accelerating biological aging. The data further support the utility of serum UA as a potential blood-based biomarker for frailty in this demographic, contributing to the expanding evidence on its significance in geriatric health assessments.

Abstract Image

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较高的血清尿酸是导致老年人虚弱的风险因素：一项基于全国人口的研究。

背景：尿酸（UA）是嘌呤代谢的终极分解产物，其作用相互矛盾，既是炎症介质，又是抗氧化剂。其临床相关性，尤其是在老年人群中的相关性，仍是一个争论不休的话题。为了弄清循环尿酸对人体健康是有害还是有益，我们研究了血清尿酸浓度与虚弱指数之间的关系--虚弱指数是对全国具有代表性的社区老年人生物衰老的综合衡量：我们利用韩国全国健康与营养调查的数据开展了一项基于人群的横断面研究。样本包括 4268 名 65 岁及以上的参与者。我们利用 38 个评估身体、认知、心理和社会领域的项目构建了赤字累积虚弱指数（FI）。根据 FI，参与者被分为非虚弱（FI ≤ 0.15）和前期虚弱（0.15 0.25）。血清尿酸水平通过比色酶法进行量化：结果：在控制了年龄、性别、社会经济地位（包括收入和教育水平）、生活方式因素（吸烟状况）、病史（高血压、糖尿病、血脂异常、中风、心血管疾病）和体重指数等混杂因素后，观察到体弱者的血清尿酸水平明显高于非体弱者（P 结论：这些研究结果表明，体弱者的血清尿酸水平明显高于非体弱者：这些研究结果表明，循环中尿酸水平的升高可能是促进老年人衰老的因素，而不是抗衰老的因素，突出了尿酸在加速生物衰老中的潜在作用。这些数据进一步支持了血清尿酸作为一种潜在的血液生物标志物在这一人群中的实用性，从而有助于不断扩大其在老年健康评估中的重要性。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Cachexia Sarcopenia and Muscle MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL-

CiteScore

13.30

自引率

12.40%

发文量

234

审稿时长

16 weeks

期刊介绍： The Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle is a peer-reviewed international journal dedicated to publishing materials related to cachexia and sarcopenia, as well as body composition and its physiological and pathophysiological changes across the lifespan and in response to various illnesses from all fields of life sciences. The journal aims to provide a reliable resource for professionals interested in related research or involved in the clinical care of affected patients, such as those suffering from AIDS, cancer, chronic heart failure, chronic lung disease, liver cirrhosis, chronic kidney failure, rheumatoid arthritis, or sepsis.