Objective. To explore the factors influencing serum uric acid levels and the prevalence of hyperuricemia in aboriginal children from an area in Taiwan with a high prevalence of gouty arthritis. Methods. A cross sectional study of the Bunun tribe was conducted in central Taiwan from March to May 2001. Children aged 4-13 were requested to fill out a structured questionnaire with the assistance of their parents. A total of 414 children (mean age, 8.9?2.1 years) were finally recruited. Uric acid was determined by colorimetry using the uricase method. Since no previous studies have investigated serum uric acid levels in these aboriginal children, hyperuricemia was defined as uric acid >416.5 mmol/L(7 mg/dl) in boys and > 357 mmol/L(6mg/dl) in girls. Results. The mean concentration of serum uric acid was 368.9?83.3 mmol/L. Ninety out of 224 girls (40.2%) and 56 out of 190 boys (29.5%) were hyperuricemic. Children with hyperuricemia had significantly higher body mass index, blood pressure, triglyceride and creatinine concentrations than those with normal uric acid levels. After adjusting for age, sex, lipid profile and blood pressure, hyperuricemia was found to be significantly associated with serum creatinine (OR:2.40, 95% C.I.:1.91-3.04) body mass index (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.11-1.40) and a family history of gouty arthritis in parents (OR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.02-3.96). Conclusion. Body mass index, a positive family history of gouty arthritis in parents and creatinine level correlated with hyperuricemia in aboriginal children in Taiwan. However, the significance of hyperuricemia in children needs further investigation.
