Relationship between serum uric acid level and mild cognitive impairment in Chinese community elderly

Background: To evaluate the association between SUA levels within a normal to high range and the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among community elderly. Methods: The present study was based on 2102 community elderly from a cross-sectional study conducted in a representative urban area of Beijing between 2009 and 2010. The mean age were 71.2 +/- 6.6 years old, 59.7% were female. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to assess cognitive function by trained neurology doctors. Results: The prevalence of hyperuricemia and MCI was 16.7% and 15.9% respectively. With the increase of SUA levels, the prevalence of MCI showed a strong decreasing linear trend. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed ORs for MCI were 1.01(95% CI: 0.69-1.48), 1.50(95% CI: 0.85-2.64), 1.65(95% CI: 1.12-2.43) and 1.53(95% CI: 1.00-2.33), 1.84(95% CI: 1.27-2.90), 1.92(95% CI: 1.02-3.35) for the second, third and highest quarters among men and women respectively (with the lowest quartile as the reference). Conclusions: Higher SUA levels, when in the normal range, were positively associated with cognitive function among Chinese community elderly, but this association was not robust among participants with hyperuricemia.