Potentials of Hyperuricemia and Insulin Levels in Predicting Hypertension in Obese Children: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Recent studies in humans show that increased uric acid predicts hyperinsulinemia and obesity. Objectives: Our study aimed to investigate whether hyperuricemia and insulin levels predict hypertension in obese children. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on the records of 161 obese children aged 5 to 15 years old based on the defined inclusion criteria. Children's blood pressure, height, weight, FBS (fasting blood sugar), HDL (high-density lipoprotein), LDL (low-density lipoprotein), TG (triglyceride), HbA1c (hemoglobin A1c), urine albumin, creatinine, insulin levels, and uric acid were measured. Data were analyzed by SPSS software. The significance level was considered P < 0.05. Results: According to the data obtained from this study, the mean of SBP (systolic blood pressure) and DBP (diastolic blood pressure) in obese children with hyperuricemia was higher than in obese children without hyperuricemia. The average insulin in obese children and hypertension was higher than in obese children without hypertension, especially in males and the age group of 5 - 10 years. The levels of cholesterol and LDL in hypertensive males were higher than in those with hyperuricemia. HDL was higher in children without hyperuricemia than in children with hyperuricemia. The strongest predictors of uric acid were age (P < 0.001, B = 0.183), HbA1c (P = 0.014, B = 0.255), and cholesterol (P = 0.03, B = -0.007), respectively. Conclusions: Based on this study, there is a relationship between uric acid levels and parameters such as obesity and blood pressure, and the findings showed that increased uric acid predicts hyperinsulinemia and obesity. Therefore, this study indicates that physicians and healthcare workers should consider the level and state of uric acid.