연구배경: 혈청 요산 농도가 대사증후군의 중요한 예측인자로 보고되고 있기는 있지만, 대부분의 연구는 단면 연구이었으며 국내에서 대단위 인구를 대상으로 한 후향적 코호트 연구는 드물었다. 따라서 본 연구는 대사증후군이 없는 건강한 인구 집단에서 기저 요산 농도가 높을수록, 4년간 대사증후군 발생에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 하였다. 방법: 일개 대학병원 건강검진센터에서 2002년 검진을 받은 남성 직장인 중에서, 대사증후군 및 과거병력이 없는 사람 중 4년간(2006년까지 추적관찰) 관찰이 가능한 9,746명을 대상으로 하였다. 요산 농도를 4분위로 나누어 대사증후군 요인과의 관련성을 알아보았다. 2002년 요산 농도에 따른 추후 대사증후군 발생을 비교하였고, 로지스틱 회귀분석으로 가능한 혼란변수를 보정하고 교차비와 95% 신뢰구간을 제시하였다. 결과: 2002년부터 2006년까지 평균 3.56년(표준편차 0.90년) 관찰하였고, 2002년 대사증후군에 없는 대상에서 2006년까지 추적관찰 하였을 때 1,110명(10.9%)에서 대사증후군이 발생하였다. 2002년도 요산 농도를 4분위에 따라 향후 대사증후군의 발생 위험도 보았을 때, 연령, 성별, 음주, 흡연, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance, creatinine, high sensive C-reactive protein을 보정한 로지스틱 회귀분석 결과, 교차비(95% 신뢰구간)는 각각 1.0 (reference), 1.15 (0.96-1.39), 1.52 (1.29-1.80), 2.00 (1.68-2.37)에 해당하였다. 결론: 본 연구 결과, 요산 농도는 대사증후군 발생과 관련이 있었다. 대사증후군이 없는 성인이라도 요산 농도가 높을수록 향후 대사증후군의 발생 위험이 높았다. 따라서 요산 농도가 높은 사람들에서는 대사증후군의 향후 발생에 대하여 더욱 주시해야 하겠다.

Background: Serum uric acid has been suggested as a predictor for development of the metabolic syndrome, but retrospective cohort studies in Korean population is scarce. Therefore, we investigated the association between serum uric acid levels and the incidence of the metabolic syndrome in Korean people. Methods: The study population consisted of 9,746 Korean male employees, 30 to 59 years of age, without cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome, who underwent health checkups from 2002 to 2006. We analyzed incidence of metabolic syndrome according to serum uric acid levels and odds ratio of metabolic syndrome using logistic regression. Results: As a quartile of serum uric acid increased, 4 year follow-up incidence of the metabolic syndrome increased. After adjustment sex, age, alcohol drinking status, and smoking status, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and high sensitive C-reactive protein, odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for incidence of metabolic syndrome comparing the lowest uric acid quartile to the upper quartiles were 1.0 (reference), 1.15 (0.96-1.39), 1.52 (1.29-1.80), 2.00 (1.68-2.37), respectively. After futher adjustment of metabolic components, this association remained significant. Conclusions: These results showed that increasing levels of serum uric acid predicted an increased incidence of metabolic syndrome. Physicians should be observant regarding future development of metabolic syndrome among patients with increasing concentration of serum uric acid.

Background: Serum uric acid has been suggested as a predictor for development of the metabolic syndrome, but retrospective cohort studies in Korean population is scarce. Therefore, we investigated the association between serum uric acid levels and the incidence of the metabolic syndrome in Korean people. Methods: The study population consisted of 9,746 Korean male employees, 30 to 59 years of age, without cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome, who underwent health checkups from 2002 to 2006. We analyzed incidence of metabolic syndrome according to serum uric acid levels and odds ratio of metabolic syndrome using logistic regression. Results: As a quartile of serum uric acid increased, 4 year follow-up incidence of the metabolic syndrome increased. After adjustment sex, age, alcohol drinking status, and smoking status, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and high sensitive C-reactive protein, odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for incidence of metabolic syndrome comparing the lowest uric acid quartile to the upper quartiles were 1.0 (reference), 1.15 (0.96-1.39), 1.52 (1.29-1.80), 2.00 (1.68-2.37), respectively. After futher adjustment of metabolic components, this association remained significant. Conclusions: These results showed that increasing levels of serum uric acid predicted an increased incidence of metabolic syndrome. Physicians should be observant regarding future development of metabolic syndrome among patients with increasing concentration of serum uric acid.

Serum uric acid, Metabolic syndrome, Incidence