World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

PREVALENCE OF HYPERURICEMIA IN PORT HARCOURT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

Nwachuku Edna Ogechi*, Elekima Ibioku and Ben-Chioma Adline Erinma

ABSTRACT

In a population based cross-sectional study, a total of 100 apparently healthy subjects (58 males 42females) randomly selected from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, were investigated for serum uric acid level (SUA). SUA was estimated by Uricase method using a clinical chemistry analyzer (Map-Lab plus)®. Of the 100 subjects investigated, prevalence of hyperuricemia (>416?mol/L for males and menopausal women, and >339?mol/L for pre-menopausal women) was observed to be 56% of which males and females had % prevalence of 32% and 24% females respectively. The prevalence rate of hyperuricemia in females was high in the age intervals 61-70 (7%) and 51-60 (5%) years respectively. The lowest prevalence rate of 2% was observed in females in the age intervals 21-30 years. In males, the highest prevalence rates of 12% was observed at age intervals 61-70%, followed by 8% in age intervals 21-30 years, and the lowest prevalence of 3% in age intervals 41-50 years. Uric acid level increased significantly with age in post-menopausal women, probably due to diminished estrogen secretion. The overall high prevalence rate of 56% may be a reflection of high seafood and alcohol consumption in Rivers State.

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