association of electronic cigarette exposure with serum uric acid level and hyperuricemia: 2016-2017 Korea National health and Nutritional Examination Survey.

Objectives
The present study evaluated the association of electronic cigarette (EC) exposure with
serum uric acid (UA) level and hyperuricemia (HUA) using a nationally representative sample
of South Korea.
Methods
This study included 10,692 participants (9,905, 609, and 178, never, ever, and current EC
users, respectively). Urinary cotinine and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol
(NNAL) levels were used to determine conventional smoking exposure among EC users.
The association between EC use and UA level was evaluated by linear regression analysis.
Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between EC
and HUA. Subgroup analysis confined to cotinine-verified active smokers was performed to
address the association between the dual use of EC and combustible cigarettes and serum
UA levels.
Results
The serum UA level was highest among current EC users, followed by ever and never EC
users. The prevalence of HUA was 26.2%, 19.3%, and 10.8% in current, ever, and never
EC users, respectively. Although EC exposure was positively associated with HUA in a
dose-dependent manner only in men (Ptrend = 0.04), a similar tendency was also observed
in women with marginal significance (Ptrend = 0.102). The positive association of HUA with
EC exposure was more apparent among dual users (odds ratio [OR] = 1.96, 95% confidence
interval [CI]: 1.29–2.99) than among those who only smoked combustible cigarettes.

Kim T, Kim Y, Kang J. association of electronic cigarette exposure with serum uric acid level and hyperuricemia: 2016-2017 Korea National health and Nutritional Examination Survey. PloS one. 2021;16(3):1. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0247868