Exposure to Chinese famine and the risk of hyperuricemia in later life: a population-based cross-sectional study

Background Limited studies have investigated the relationship between famine exposure and the risk of hyperuricemia in later life. Consequently, the primary purpose of the current study was to examine the potential association between exposure to Chinese famine and hyperuricemia, as well as any gender disparities in this relationship.Method The data were obtained from the China PEACE (China Patient-Centered Evaluative Assessment of Cardiac Events) Million Persons Project in Rongchang. The study participants were enrolled into different cohorts based on their birthdates: the fetal-exposed cohort (born between 1959 and 1962), the childhood-exposed cohort (born between 1949 and 1958), the adolescence-exposed cohort (born between 1941 and 1948), and the non-exposed cohorts (born between 1963 and 1974). The potential association between famine exposure and hyperuricemia was assessed using binary logistic regression models.Results A total of 6,916 individuals were enrolled in the current study with an average age of 60.11 +/- 9.22 years, out of which 3,544 were women. After adjusting for confounding factors, fetal (OR = 0.530, 95% CI: 0.411-0.0.683), childhood (OR = 0.642, 95% CI: 0.494-0.833) exposure to the Chinese famine for men was negatively associated with hyperuricemia. Conversely, exposure to the Chinese famine during fetal (OR = 2.144, 95% CI: 1.622-2.834), childhood (OR = 1.485, 95% CI: 1.105-1.997), and adolescence (OR = 1.967, 95% CI: 1.465-2.641) for women was positively associated with hyperuricemia. Furthermore, the impact of famine on hyperuricemia that has been observed in exposed women might be intensified by the presence of dyslipidemia, abdominal obesity, and overweight/obesity.Conclusion Women exposed to the Chinese famine during fetal, childhood, and adolescence were positively associated with hyperuricemia, while men exhibited a negative association during fetal and childhood. Additionally, the effect of famine on hyperuricemia in exposed women appears to be intensified by the presence of dyslipidemia, abdominal obesity, and overweight/obesity.