The Relationship Between Urinary Tract Infection and elevated uric acid level among different groups of population

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the correlation between elevated serum uric acid levels and urinary tract infections (UTIs), and to investigate the prevalence and types of urinary crystals in relation to sex, hyperuricemia, and associated symptoms in a population sample from Hillah, Iraq.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 individuals (50 males and 50 females), aged 18–60 years, in Hillah, Iraq. Urinalysis was performed to detect and classify urinary crystals. Serum uric acid levels were measured, with hyperuricemia defined as levels >6 mg/dl. Statistical analysis assessed correlations between uric acid levels, crystal types, sex differences, and associated symptoms.

Results: Uric acid crystals were the most prevalent (43%) among participants. Significant sex-based differences were observed in crystal distribution (p = 0.007). Hyperuricemia was more prevalent in males (65%) than females (35%) (p = 0.031). Hyperuricemia was significantly associated with joint pain (85% incidence, p = 0.02). No significant correlation was found between serum uric acid levels and types of urine crystals (p = 0.07). Crystal prevalence in this cohort (92%) was substantially higher than in previous studies (29%).

Conclusion: The study highlights significant sex-specific differences in uric acid metabolism and urinary crystal formation, with hyperuricemia notably more prevalent in males and associated with joint pain. The high crystal prevalence compared to earlier research suggests dietary or environmental factors may play a role. These findings underscore the clinical relevance of hyperuricemia in UTIs and call for further research into confounding variables and mechanisms of stone formation.