Endocrine Abstracts

As type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder, it frequently poses challenges for patients in metabolizing uric acid, resulting in hyperuricemia (HUA). In this study, our objective is to investigate the risk factors of HUA among T2DM patients.

Method: Patients with T2DM who were attended in the National Institute of Nutrition in Tunis, Tunisia, between August and November 2023 were included in this retrospective observational study. Diagnosing HUA was based on sound diagnostic criteria (i.e. SUA of greater or equal to 420 mmol/l and 360 mmol/l for male and female respectively). Patients younger than 18 years old, effected by another type of diabetes, pregnant women, patients undergoing urate-lowering therapy or taking medications that affect blood uric acid levels, suffering from a serious liver or kidney damage or chronic heart failure were not included in the study.

Results: A total of 131 T2DM patients were included: 23 in the HUA group and 108 in the non-HUA group. In simpler terms, the prevalence of HUA among patients with T2DM was 17.5%. The mean ages of the non-HUA group and the HUA group were 60.3±9.5 and 66.3±9.5 respectively. the sex ratios (female/male) were respectively 1.8 and 1.3. The average diabetes duration of the non-HUA group and the HUA group was 13.5±5.5 and 15.1±6 respectively. Participants with HUA were older and more likely to have hypertension (P<0.01). Additionally, there were higher values of body mass index, creatinine, triglycerides and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) in the HUA group compered to non-HUA group (P<0.5) but lower values of high-Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) (P<0.05). Findings did not reveal any notable difference in other indicators including sex, diabetes complications, diabetes duration, HbA1C, total cholesterol, low-Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), aminotransferases (SGAT, SGPT) and albumin between HUA group and non-HUA group (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Our study indicates HUA occurrence among patients with T2DM and establishes independent risk factors associated with HUA, suggesting promising potential for early detection and diagnosis of HUA in T2DM patients.