Distribution Pattern of Serum Uric Acid Level Before and After National Festival Dashain among Patients Visiting Tertiary Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal

Abstract

Introduction: Dashain, one of the national festivals in Nepal, celebrated with excessive consumption of high purine content foods, alcoholic and soft beverages. These foods have been associated with higher Serum Uric Acid (SUA) levels leading to hyperuricemia. This study was intended to evaluate the distribution pattern of SUA level a month before and after this festival for two consecutive years.
 
 Methods and Materials: The data of 5818 patients visiting Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for SUA test (a month before and after Dashain festival for two consecutive years; 2017 - 2018 A.D.) were collected and analyzed. The statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 21. Continuous variables were expressed as mean ± SD taking 95% confidence interval and p values of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the variables.
 
 Results: The mean SUA levels before and after Dashain in two consecutive years were 333.5 ± 112.1 μmol/L and 334.2±114.7 μmol/L in 2017 A.D. and 322.6 ± 103.9μmol/L and 343.2± 111.4 μmol/L in 2018 A.D. There was a significantly elevated level of the mean SUA level after Dashain festival in 2018 among both sexes (p-value <0.05). The age-wise distribution of mean SUA after the Dashain festival was consistent with increasing age among the study population.
 
 Conclusion: The study concluded that the Dashain festival has an impact on increasing the SUA level.