Residual cholesterol is an independent risk factor for new-onset hyperuricemia: a nationwide cohort study based on a middle-aged and elderly population.

Abstract

Background and aim: The relationship between residual cholesterol (RC) and the risk of new-onset hyperuricemia remains uncertain. We aimed to examine the association between degree of RC and new-onset hyperuricemia in Chinese adults.

Methods and results: We analyzed data from 6963 healthy participants enrolled in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Serum lipids were assessed using an enzymatic colorimetric test. RC levels were estimated as total cholesterol (TC) minus high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) minus low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The primary outcome was new-onset hyperuricemia, defined as a serum uric acid (SUA) concentration ≥417 μmol/L in males or ≥357 μmol/L in females at the exit visit. During a median follow-up of 4 years, 614 (8.8 %) participants developed new-onset hyperuricemia. We observed a significant positive association between RC and new-onset hyperuricemia (per 1-mmol/L increment; odds ratio (OR) 1.23; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.07-1.40). Participants in tertiles 3 (OR: 1.69, 95 % CI: 1.30-2.19) had notably higher risks of new-onset hyperuricemia compared to those in tertile 1 for RC levels. Additionally, regression analysis also showed a significant positive correlation between RC and SUA levels. For every 1 mmol/L increase in RC, SUA concentrations increased by approximately 35.0 μmol/L (β = 7.23, 95 % CI 4.72-9.75, P < 0.001).

Conclusions: The findings of this prospective cohort study suggest that higher level of RC is an independent risk factor for new-onset hyperuricemia among Chinese adults.