Link between uric acid to high-density lipoprotein ratio and diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Higher uric acid to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio in type 2 diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy correlated negatively with nerve conduction velocity, which can help identify related risk factors for screening and prevention of abnormalities.

This cross-sectional analysis conducted at a single centre investigated the relationship between the ratio of uric acid to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (UA/HDL) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) in individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

This study comprised of 324 T2DM patients. Patients were divided into two groups based on their NCV status: one group with normal NCV (NCVN) and another with abnormal NCV (NCVA).

Additionally, patients were categorized into groups with low and high UA/HDL values, using the median UA/HDL value within the study cohort as the dividing point. The motor and sensory conduction velocity (MCV and SCV) measurements were deliberated for all the patients.

Compared to patients with low UA/HDL values, those in the high UA/HDL group demonstrated a higher incidence of NCVA (P = 0.002). Even after accounting for confounding factors, the UA/HDL negatively correlated with bilateral- different sensory nerves SCV and MCV. UA/HDL was associated with a 1.370-fold increase in NCVA prevalence observed for every unit increase in UA/HDL, establishing it as a risk factor for NCVA.

These findings establish the UA/HDL as a risk factor linked to NCV, independently presenting a negative association with NCV in individuals with T2DM.