Abstract

Background

Large-nerve fiber dysfunction, as assessed by vibration perception threshold (VPT) predicts risks of ulceration, amputation, and mortality in diabetes. Serum uric acid (UA) is closely associated with various metabolic disorders, especially diabetes. Thus, we sought to investigate the clinical relevance of UA to large-nerve fiber dysfunction, among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods

Medical records of consecutive patients with T2D who were admitted to Beijing Friendship Hospital Pinggu Campus between May 2014 and December 2016 were collected. Data for the 824 eligible patients included in the final analysis were extracted using a structured form. A VPT value ≥15 in either foot was defined as abnormal. We compared the clinical characteristics between patients with abnormal VPT and those with normal VPT (VPT value <15 in both feet) in the overall population and in gender subgroups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the association of abnormal VPT with UA level. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare VPT values across four UA quartiles.

Results

UA levels were significantly lower in T2D patients with abnormal VPT than in those with normal VPT (294.5 ± 84.0 vs. 314.9 ± 92.8 μmol/L, P < 0.01), especially among male patients (311.7 ± 85.2 vs. 336.9 ± 89.6 μmol/L, P < 0.01). From the logistic regression analysis, hyperuricemia (males >420 μmol/L; females >360 μmol/L) was associated with a reduced risk of abnormal VPT (odds ratio [OR], 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39–0.91; P < 0.05). This association was robust in male patients (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.24–0.76; P < 0.01) but not in female patients (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.47–1.82; P = 0.816), even after adjustment for confounding factors. For the younger male subgroup (age <65 years), VPT values decreased as the UA level increased (P for trend = 0.002), but this trend was not significant in older male subgroup (age ≥65 years; P for trend = 0.400).

Conclusions

Low serum UA levels showed a significant association with an increased risk of large-nerve fiber dysfunction in male patients with T2D, but not in female patients with T2D. In addition, in only the younger subgroup of male patients (<65 years), lower levels of UA also correlated with higher VPT values.

Details

Title
Association between serum uric acid and large-nerve fiber dysfunction in type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study
Author
Tian-Nan, Jiang 1 ; Yu-Feng, Li 2 ; Li-Li, Huo 3 ; Zhang, Qian 4 ; Lian-Ying, Wang 2 ; Cui-Ling, Zhao 2 ; Li-Ge, Liu 1 

 Department of General Practice, School of General Practice and Continuing Education, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Department of Internal Medicine, Health Care Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China 
 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Beijing Friendship Hospital Pinggu Campus, Capital Medical University, Beijing 101200, China 
 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, 4th Medical College of Peking University, Beijing 100035, China 
 Department of National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Disease, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China 
Pages
1015-1022
Section
Original Articles
Publication year
2019
Publication date
May 2019
Publisher
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Ovid Technologies
ISSN
03666999
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2502612226
Copyright
Copyright © 2019 The Chinese Medical Association, produced by Wolters Kluwer, Inc. under the CC-BY-NC-ND license. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.