Rheumatology: Current Research
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-1149 (Printed)
+44-20-4587-4809
ISSN: 2161-1149 (Printed)
+44-20-4587-4809
Tao-Hsin Tung
Cheng-Hsin General Hospital, Taiwan
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Rheumatology
Aim: Aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of and risk factors associated with hyperuricemia in the elderly agricultural and fishing population in Taipei, Taiwan. Methods: This study included 4,372 healthy elderly agricultural and fishing professionals (2,766 men and 1,606 women) voluntarily admitted to a teaching hospital in Taipei, Taiwan for physical exams in 2010. Their fasting blood samples were drawn through venipuncture, and they were administered a structured questionnaire by clinical nurses. Results: The overall prevalence of hyperuricemia was 30.4%, which increased significantly with increasing age (p<0.001). The prevalence was similar in men (30.2%) and women (30.6%) (p=0.78). Age, obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia as well as low HDL and high BUN, creatinine, and ALT levels were significantly associated with hyperuricemia. Hypercholesterolemia (odds ratio [OR]=1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05��?2.50) and high creatinine levels (OR=3.75, 95% CI: 2.64��?5.33) were significantly associated with hyperuricemia in men, whereas type 2 diabetes (OR=1.54, 95% CI: 1.22��?1.93) and high ALT levels (OR=1.79, 95% CI: 1.31��?2.43) were significantly associated with hyperuricemia in women. Hyperuricemia disparity among age groups was also revealed. Conclusion: Several sex-related differences in the prevalence of hyperuricemia were indicated in this specific elderly population.
Tao-Hsin Tung was born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in 1972. He received the BSC degree in Science from Medicine Sociology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in 1994, and the MSC in Science and Ph.D. degrees in Public Health, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, in 1996 and 2005, respectively.In 2004, he joined the Department of Medical Research and Education, Cheng-Hsin General Hospital, as an Associated Researcher, and in 2008 became a Researcher. Since September 2006, he also has been with the Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, where he was an Adjunct Associate Professor. His current research interests include clinical epidemiology, biostatistics, disease screening and medical law.
Email: ch2876@chgh.org.tw