DESCRIPTION OF URIC ACID LEVELS IN THE ELDERLY IN UPT PUSKESMAS RANTANG MEDAN

Abstract

In the elderly over the age of sixty, physical and mental health often deteriorates, after which the body's ability to withstand various attacks of disease decreases. Uric acid is the end product of purine metabolism in the body. Excess uric acid is not absorbed by the body and is not completely metabolized, causing an increase in uric acid in the blood called hyperuricemia. Gout is diagnosed when laboratory results show fatty acid levels of more than 7 mg/dl in men and more than 6 mg/dl in women. Generally, this disease affects the elderly, where the body's ability to metabolize purines decreases, both those found in food and from the breakdown of purines from nucleic acids. In serum, urate is in the form of sodium urate, while in the urine channel, urate is in the form of uric acid. The type of research used is quantitative with a descriptive approach, namely to determine the description of uric acid levels in the elderly at UPT Puskesmas Rantang Medan. Research sampling was carried out on elderly people aged 60-74 years totaling 30 samples using the Stick (Accu Check) method. In research that has been conducted on 30 samples shows the results of elevated uric acid levels in 21 samples (70%) and normal uric acid levels in 19 samples (30%). Normal uric acid levels based on gender in men were 5 samples (16.66%) and women were 4 samples (13.33%). Uric acid levels increased based on male gender 4 samples (13.33%) and female 21 samples (69.99%). It can be concluded that based on research uric acid levels will increase in the elderly, especially in women as many as 21 samples (69.99%).