Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia and Metabolically Unhealthy Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Analysis in the Tianning Cohort

Objective The relationship between obesity and hyperuricemia has been demonstrated by many studies. However, whether or to what extent metabolic condition influents the association between obesity and hyperuricemia was not clear. Here, we aimed to examine the association between obese-metabolic phenotype and hyperuricemia in a large sample of Chinese adults. Methods According to BMI and metabolic syndrome, obese-metabolic phenotype was defined as metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO), metabolically healthy obesity (MHO), metabolically unhealthy non-obesity (MUNO) and metabolically healthy non-obesity (MHNO)in the Tianning cohort (N=5072). We conducted a cross-sectional analysis between obese-metabolic phenotype and hyperuricemia, followed by a Mendelian Randomization analysis using GWAS summary data to confirm the causality between uric acid and BMI. Results The average level of serum UA showed 41.87-higher μmol/L in participants with MHO (β=41.87, P<0.001) and 63.18-higher μmol/L in participants with MUO (β=63.18, P<0.001), compared to those with MHNO. Compared to participants with MHNO, those with MUO had the highest likelihood to have hyperuricemia (OR=4.56, P<0.001), followed by those with MHO (OR=3.32, P<0.001). Mendelian randomization analysis indicated that uric acid was more likely to be a consequence of BMI (β=0.059, P=6.54×10-154). Conclusion MUO, in comparison with MHO, was significantly associated with hyperuricemia in Chinese adults.