Serum uric acid, hyperuricemia and body mass index in children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities

Abstract

The aims of the preset study were to describe the profile of serum uric acid, the prevalence of hyperuricemia and its risk factors among children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 941 children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities (aged 4–18 years) who participated in annual health examinations in three special schools in Taiwan. This study indicated 30.6% boys and 17.9% girls with intellectual disabilities were with hyperuricemia in Taiwan. The factors of gender, age and BMI were variables that can significantly predict the hyperuricemia occurrence in this vulnerable population. Those children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities were boys (OR = 2.93, 95% CI = 2.02–4.26) and older age (OR = 6.49, 95% CI = 2.19–19.21) were more likely to be hyperuricemia. With regard to BMI to hyperuricemia occurrence, those children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities were overweight (OR = 1.16–3.21, 95% CI = 1.16–3.21) and being obese (OR = 4.95–11.58, 95% CI = 4.95– 11.58) was more likely to have a hyperuricemia than the normal weight group. This study provides the general profile of serum uric acid, hyperuricemia and its risk factors of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities. Medical professionals should be highly alert to the possible consequences of hyperuricemia and provide useful information about the clinical manifestation of this condition for caregivers of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities.