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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Clinical Rheumatology

Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and an increased risk of hyperuricemia

  • Su Hwan Cho1,2
  • Hyun Jin Kim3
  • Soontae Kim4
  • Yoon-Hee Kang5
  • Jae Moon Yun1,2
  • Jin Ho Park1,2
5 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
  2. 2Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
  3. 3National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
  4. 4Department of Environmental and Safety Engineering, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
  5. 5Environmental Institute, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
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Abstract

Objectives: Evidence suggests that ambient air pollution contributes to metabolic dysregulation, including hyperuricemia. However, previous studies were limited to specific groups or regions with relatively high air pollutant concentrations. This study examined the association between long-term exposure to ambient air pollutants and hyperuricemia in a general population exposed to relatively low pollution concentrations.

Method: This cross-sectional study analyzed 20,117 adults who underwent health screenings in the Republic of Korea (2015–2019). Annual mean concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, and CO were estimated at residential addresses using the Community Multiscale Air Quality model. Hyperuricemia was defined as serum uric acid level > 7.0 mg/dL (males) or > 6.0 mg/dL (females). Multivariable logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) per interquartile range (IQR) increase in pollutant exposure, adjusting for confounders including estimated glomerular filtration rate.

Results: Among 20,117 participants, 3,078 (15.3%) had hyperuricemia. All five pollutants were significantly associated with hyperuricemia. The ORs (95% CIs) per IQR increase were 1.06 (1.01–1.10) for PM2.5, 1.15 (1.08–1.21) for PM10, 1.07 (1.00–1.14) for NO2, 1.13 (1.07–1.19) for SO2, and 1.06 (1.01–1.11) for CO. Associations were stronger among current smokers, older adults, and individuals with dyslipidemia or central obesity (all P for interaction < 0.05).

Conclusions: Long-term exposure to air pollutants was significantly associated with hyperuricemia, independent of renal function and even at low concentrations. These findings suggest that air pollution is an important environmental risk factor for metabolic disease, emphasizing the need for stricter regulations to protect vulnerable populations.

Key Points

• Long-term exposure to major ambient air pollutants is significantly associated with an increased risk of hyperuricemia, even at relatively low concentrations.

• The association between air pollution and hyperuricemia persists independent of renal function, suggesting a potential role in systemic metabolic dysregulation.

• Vulnerable populations, including older adults, current smokers, and individuals with metabolic conditions, exhibit stronger associations between air pollution exposure and hyperuricemia.

Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-026-08398-z.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{cho2026longterm,
  title = {{Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and an increased risk of hyperuricemia}},
  author = {Su Hwan Cho and Hyun Jin Kim and Soontae Kim and Yoon-Hee Kang and Jae Moon Yun and Jin Ho Park},
  journal = {Clinical Rheumatology},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1007/s10067-026-08398-z},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-026-08398-z},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and an increased risk of hyperuricemia
AU  - Su Hwan Cho
AU  - Hyun Jin Kim
AU  - Soontae Kim
AU  - Yoon-Hee Kang
AU  - Jae Moon Yun
AU  - Jin Ho Park
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/12
JO  - Clinical Rheumatology
DO  - 10.1007/s10067-026-08398-z
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-026-08398-z
AB  - Objectives: Evidence suggests that ambient air pollution contributes to metabolic dysregulation, including hyperuricemia. However, previous studies were limited to specific groups or regions with relatively high air pollutant concentrations. This study examined the association between long-term exposure to ambient air pollutants and hyperuricemia in a general population exposed to relatively low pollution concentrations.  Method: This cross-sectional study analyzed 20,117 adults who underwent health screenings in the Republic of Korea (2015–2019). Annual mean concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, and CO were estimated at residential addresses using the Community Multiscale Air Quality model. Hyperuricemia was defined as serum uric acid level > 7.0 mg/dL (males) or > 6.0 mg/dL (females). Multivariable logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) per interquartile range (IQR) increase in pollutant exposure, adjusting for confounders including estimated glomerular filtration rate.  Results: Among 20,117 participants, 3,078 (15.3%) had hyperuricemia. All five pollutants were significantly associated with hyperuricemia. The ORs (95% CIs) per IQR increase were 1.06 (1.01–1.10) for PM2.5, 1.15 (1.08–1.21) for PM10, 1.07 (1.00–1.14) for NO2, 1.13 (1.07–1.19) for SO2, and 1.06 (1.01–1.11) for CO. Associations were stronger among current smokers, older adults, and individuals with dyslipidemia or central obesity (all P for interaction < 0.05).  Conclusions: Long-term exposure to air pollutants was significantly associated with hyperuricemia, independent of renal function and even at low concentrations. These findings suggest that air pollution is an important environmental risk factor for metabolic disease, emphasizing the need for stricter regulations to protect vulnerable populations.  Key Points  • Long-term exposure to major ambient air pollutants is significantly associated with an increased risk of hyperuricemia, even at relatively low concentrations.  • The association between air pollution and hyperuricemia persists independent of renal function, suggesting a potential role in systemic metabolic dysregulation.  • Vulnerable populations, including older adults, current smokers, and individuals with metabolic conditions, exhibit stronger associations between air pollution exposure and hyperuricemia.  Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-026-08398-z.
SN  - 0770-3198
SN  - 1434-9949
ER  -