Prehypertension and high serum uric acid increase risk of arterial stiffness

Abstract

Prehypertension and serum uric acid are emerging as independent risk factors for arterial stiffness and may also predict cardiovascular diseases. Previous studies have demonstrated the association between serum uric acid and arterial stiffness in hypertensive adults, but there are limited studies in prehypertensive adults. We compared the serum uric acid (SUA) and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) between normotensive and prehypertensive participants. The association between SUA, prehypertension and CAVI were investigated. One hundred and eighteen participants were recruited and divided into two groups according to their blood pressure (normotensive, 53 and prehypertensive, 65). Blood pressure, resting heart rate, pulsatile stress, height, waist circumference and body composition were measured. After an overnight fast, blood samples were collected to measure lipid profile and SUA levels. Arterial stiffness was assessed according to the CAVI. The results showed that the SUA and CAVI of the prehypertensive group were significantly higher than those of the normotensive group. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that CAVI was significantly correlated with age, systolic blood pressure and SUA. Furthermore, prehypertension and high SUA were significantly associated with increased risk of abnormal CAVI (relative risk, 2.696; 95% CI, 1.552-4.683; p < .001). The study demonstrated that prehypertension and high SUA significantly increased the risk of arterial stiffness as assessed by CAVI.

The relationship between elevated serum uric acid and arterial stiffness in a healthy population

“…Consistent with previous studies, 7–14 it was found that baPWV was positively correlated with uric acid levels in all subjects. In the regression analysis, various potential confounders were added in sequential order, but the results only revealed a modest reduction of effect (the regression coefficient changed from 0.31 to 0.28 after adjusting for a range of confounders), which strengthened the relationship between uric acid and baPWV.…”

“…These present results were in accordance with the recent case-control studies that focused on the causal relationship between uric acid and metabolic syndrome, and several cardiovascular diseases. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] However, conflicting results were still present. Parsa et al 21 reported that a decrease in serum uric acid has a causal effect of lowering blood pressure through the method of Mendelian randomization analysis in 516 Amish adults.…”

“…Numerous studies have reported the association between levels of circulating uric acid and arterial stiffness. 7–14 However, other studies did not find such relationship. 15,16 Observational studies have experienced residual problems of poorly measured or unmeasured confounding and reverse causality, when the disease process has a long latency period.…”

<p>The Relationship Between Glycemic Control and Concomitant Hypertension on Arterial Stiffness in Type II Diabetes</p>

“… 9 In the present study, we found that BMI as an independent variable was inversely correlated with CAVI, which supports previous reports. 26 , 27 …”

Effects of white-coat, masked and sustained hypertension on coronary artery stenosis and cardiac arrhythmia

“…Hyperlipidemia was defined as total cholesterol ≥ 5.18 mmol/L, triglyceride ≥ 1.70 mmol/L, or LDL-C ≥ 3.37 mmol/L. Hyperuricemia was defined as blood uric acid > 420 μmol/L [26,27].…”