White Blood Cell Count Is Associated with Hyperuricemia in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Abstract

Background: Hyperuricemia is highly prevalent among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Inflammation is associated with the process of hyperuricemia. However, it is unclear whether white blood cell (WBC) count, a convenient inflammatory marker, is associated with hyperuricemia in patients with T2DM. Thus, we aimed to explore the possible association between WBC count and hyperuricemia in patients with T2DM.

Methods: A total of 1768 patients with T2DM were retrospectively included. Cumulative data were analyzed in patients with T2DM.

Results: WBC count was significantly elevated in T2DM patients with hyperuricemia compared with those without hyperuricemia (6.80 [5.60, 8.02] vs 6.20 [5.27, 7.24] 10⁹/L, p<0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between WBC count and serum UA levels in patients with T2DM (r=0.165, 95% CI: [0.118, 0.211], p<0.001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed an independent association between WBC count and hyperuricemia in patients with T2DM (OR=1.185, 95% CI: [1.077, 1.303], p<0.001).

Conclusion: Elevated WBC count, even within the normal range, is associated with hyperuricemia in patients with T2DM, suggesting that chronic inflammation, as indicated by a higher WBC count, may be related to the development of hyperuricemia in patients with T2DM and urate-lowering therapy may be helpful to ameliorate chronic inflammatory damage in T2DM patients with hyperuricemia.