Diuretics and hyperuricemia in the elderly.

Serum uric acid (SUA) was studied in a rural population of 420 males and 592 females aged 65 years or more. The mean SUA concentration was 0.313 mmol/l in males and 0.316 mmol/l in females. In males, 47 (11.2%) and in females 60 (10.1%) had a SUA level of 0.42 mmol/l or more. Both the mean serum values and the frequency of hyperuricemia were higher than 11 years earlier in another, similar study. The SUA concentration was 0.361 mmol/l in the 435 individuals using diuretics and 0.281 mmol/l in the remaining 578. Of the 107 hyperuricemic individuals, 82% used diuretics, and only 2 out of those 20 where the SUA level was 0.50 mmol/l or more did not use diuretics. Apart from diuretics, only the serum creatinine concentration, the Body Mass Index, body weight and the hematocrit level were significantly associated with hyperuricemia in both sexes.