Association between serum uric acid level and peripheral vascular disease of lower extremities in type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum uric acid (UA) level and lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) snbjects.Methods A total of 2174 T2DM individuals(1228 males,946 females)were investigated.The case history,physical examination and biochemical tests were conducted.And LEAD was diagnosed by high-resolution ultrasound. Results In women,the serum UA Ievels with LEAD was significanfly higher than that without LEAD[(304±76)μmol/L vs (287+71)μmol/L,P<0.01],but not in men[(332±76)μmol/L vs(328±77)μmol/L,P=0.45].The subjects were divided into 4 groups(groups A,B,C,D)according to sex-specific quartiles of serum UA levels(<240μmol/L,240-284 μmol/L,285-340 μmol/L and≥341 μmol/L in women and <275 μmol/L,275-322 μmol/L,323-377 μmol/L and≥378μmol/L in men).In women,the prevalence of LEAD of 4 groups were 38.56%,44.02%,47.54% and 50.00% respectively(P<0.01).And the prevalence of LEAD in groups C and D was significantly higher than that in group A(P<0.05).But in men there was no significant difference between 4 groups.After adjusting for age.duration of diabetes mellitus,smoking status,systolic blood pressure,body mass index,total cholesterol,triglyceride and C reactive protein,the serum UA levels in women was an independent risk factor associated with the prevalence of LEAD.And the odds ratios(95% CI)of sex-specific quarfiles of serum UA were 1.0,1.25(0.87 to 1.81).1.44(1.01 to 2.08)and 1.59(1.10 to 2.30)respectively.Conclusion The increase of serum UA levels is associated with LEAD in women, in addition to age,duration of diabetes mellitus,smoking status,systolic blood pressure,body mass index,total cholesterol,triglyceride and C reactive protein. serum UA levels is an independent risk factor of LEAD in women diabetics. Key words: Uric acid; Diabetes mellitus,type 2;  Vascular diseases