Hyperuricaemia is associated with increased metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and mortality risk in the adult population and is more common in plateau areas. Han male immigrants are a high-risk population and deserve more attention. The correlations between different altitude exposure durations and exposure modalities with hyperuricaemia have not yet been reported. In this cross-sectional study, qualified subjects were selected from two units on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and underwent a questionnaire survey (age, altitude exposure time, altitude exposure form), anthropometric measurements (body mass index BMI, blood pressure BP, and heart rate HR), and laboratory tests (white blood cell count WBC, haemoglobin HB, platelet count PLT, and serum uric acid SUA). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to detect factors associated with hyperuricaemia. The overall prevalence of hyperuricaemia was 40.8% (73 cases) among 179 Han male immigrants. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that hyperuricaemia was significantly related to altitude exposure time (OR 6.744, 95% CI 1.263-36.019), altitude exposure form (OR 2.580, 95% CI 1.068-6.231) and high-altitude polycythaemia (OR 2.125, 95% CI 1.011-4.465). High-altitude polycythaemia, exposure to high altitudes for 1-5 years, and long-term exposure to the same high-altitude areas when the high-altitude exposure dose is equal are important factors associated with hyperuricemia.
Zhu et al. (Fri,) studied this question.