Hyperuricemia in Aging: A Risk Factor or a Protective Mechanism for Physical Function?

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 35 Sayı: 3, 493 - 499, 30.06.2025

Betül Gülsüm Yavuz Veizi , Sultan Keskin Demircan

https://doi.org/10.54005/geneltip.1638353

Öz

Abstract
Aim: Hyperuricemia is associated with metabolic and cardiovascular disease in older adults, but its effects on physical function and frailty remain unclear. While the antioxidant properties of serum uric acid (SUA) may have a protective effect, some studies suggest negative effects on mobility and muscle strength. This study examines the relationship between hyperuricemia, gait speed, dynapenia, and frailty.
Methods: This retrospective study included 526 women aged 60 years and older. Gait speed, handgrip strength, and frailty status were assessed as part of a comprehensive geriatric examination. Hyperuricemia was defined as SUA levels ≥6 mg/dL. Binary logistic regression models adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, and depressive symptoms were used.
Results: Hyperuricemia was not significantly associated with low gait speed (OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 0.70 1.76, p=0.645) or dynapenia (OR: 1.17, 95% CI: 0.76–1.79, p=0.456). The association with frailty was significant in the unadjusted model (OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.04–2.35, p=0.031), but lost significance after adjustment (OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 0.96–2.34, p=0.075).
Conclusion: Hyperuricemia was not significantly associated with low gait speed or dynapenia. Although an association with frailty was observed, this weakened after adjustment for confounding factors. These results suggest that hyperuricemia may be a marker rather than a direct cause of frailty, possibly related to underlying cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms between hyperuricemia and physical function and to evaluate the effects of uric acid-lowering therapies on physical performance.Methods: This retrospective study included 526 women aged 60 years and older. Gait speed, handgrip strength and frailty status were assessed as part of a comprehensive geriatric examination. Hyperuricemia was defined as SUA levels ≥6 mg/dL. Binary logistic regression models adjusted for age, BMI, hypertension and depressive symptoms were used.
Results: Hyperuricemia was not significantly associated with low gait speed (OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 0.70–1.76, p=0.645) or dynapenia (OR: 1.17, 95% CI: 0.76–1.79, p=0.456). The association with frailty was significant in the unadjusted model (OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.04–2.35, p=0.031), but lost significance after adjustment (OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 0.96–2.34, p=0.075).
Conclusion: Hyperuricemia was not significantly associated with low gait speed or dynapenia. Although an association with frailty was observed, this weakened after adjustment for confounding factors. These results suggest that hyperuricemia may be a marker rather than a direct cause of frailty, possibly related to underlying cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms between hyperuricemia and physical function and to evaluate the effects of uric acid-lowering therapies on physical performance.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Hyperuricemia , Frailty , Muscle Strength , Physical Performance , Older People

Yaşlanmada Hiperürisemi: Fiziksel Fonksiyon İçin Bir Risk Faktörü mü, Koruyucu Bir Mekanizma mı?

Öz

Özet
Amaç: Hiperürisemi, yaşlı bireylerde metabolik ve kardiyovasküler hastalıklarla ilişkilidir; ancak fiziksel fonksiyon ve kırılganlık üzerindeki etkileri net değildir. Serum ürik asidin (SUA) antioksidan özellikleri koruyucu etki gösterebilirken, bazı çalışmalar hareketlilik ve kas gücü üzerinde olumsuz etkiler olabileceğini önesürmektedir. Bu çalışma, hiperürisemi ile yürüme hızı, dinapeni ve kırılganlık arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemektedir.
GereçveYöntemler: Bu retrospektif çalışmaya, 60 yaş ve üzeri 526 kadın dahil edilmiştir. Katılımcıların yürümehızı, el kavrama gücü ve kırılganlık durumu kapsamlı geriyatrik değerlendirme kapsamında değerlendirilmiştir. Hiperürisemi, serum ürik asit düzeyinin ≥6 mg/dL olması olarak tanımlanmıştır. Yaş, beden kitle indeksi (BKİ), hipertansiyon ve depresif semptomlara göre ayarlanan ikili lojistik regresyon modelleri kullanılmıştır.
Bulgular:Hiperürisemi, düşükyürümehızı (OR: 1,15; %95 GA: 0,70–1,76; p=0,645) veya dinapeni (OR: 1,17; %95 GA: 0,76–1,79; p=0,456) ile anlamlı şekilde ilişkili bulunmamıştır. Hiperürisemi ile kırılganlık arasındaki ilişki, düzeltilmemiş modelde anlamlı bulunmuş (OR: 1,57; %95 GA: 1,04–2,35; p=0,031), ancak düzeltmeler sonrası anlamlılığını yitirmiştir (OR: 1,50; %95 GA: 0,96–2,34; p=0,075).
Sonuçlar: Hiperürisemi, düşük yürüme hızı veya dinapeni ile anlamlı bir ilişki göstermemiştir. Kırılganlık ile ilişkisi gözlenmiş olsa da, bu ilişki olası karıştırıcı faktörler için düzeltme yapıldığında zayıflamıştır. Bu sonuçlar, hiperüriseminin kırılganlığın doğrudan bir nedeni olmaktan ziyade, altta yatan kardiyovasküler ve metabolik hastalıklarla ilişkili bir belirteç olabileceğini düşündürmektedir. Hiperürisemi ile fiziksel fonksiyon arasındaki mekanizmaların daha iyi anlaşılması ve ürik asit düşürücü tedavilerin fiziksel performans üzerindeki etkilerinin değerlendirilmesi için ileri çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Hiperürisemi , Kırılganlık , Kas Gücü , Fiziksel Performans , Yaşlı Bireyler

Kaynakça

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