Correlation between uric acid level and carotid atherosclerosis plaque formation in the elderly

Abstract

Objective To investigate the correlation between uric acid level and increase of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in the elderly. Methods Clinical data of elderly and middle-aged people who took health physical examination from Jan. 2013 to Dec. 2014 in a 3A-level hospital in Beijing were collected. The elderly people were divided into IMT normal group and plaque group. Logistic regression and linear regression were used to analyze the related factors for IMT thickening and uric acid level. Results The occurrence rate of hyperuricemia had a significant difference between the elderly group and the middle-aged group (P<0.01). There were significant differences in uric acid level 〔(350.6±89.6) μmol/L vs. (359.6±86.6) μmol/L, t=5.19, P<0.05〕. Body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), blood urea, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein levels between the IMT normal group and plaque group were 〔(25.3±3.6)kg/m2vs. (25.8±3.5) kg/m2, (115.9±13.8) mmHg vs. (126.8±16.9) mmHg, (74.6±11.3) mmHg vs. (77.8±12.1) mmHg, (4.9±0.9) mmol/L vs. (5.0±1.0) mmol/L, (1.2±0.3) mmol/L vs. (1.2±0.3) mmol/L, all P<0.01〕. Multi-factor correlation analysis showed that the IMT thickening was correlated with gender, SBP, low density lipoprotein, blood glucose, while had no correlation with uric acid level. Blood uric acid level was related with gender, smoking, BMI, triglycerides, blood glucose, C-reactive protein, high-density lipoprotein. Conclusions Blood uric acid level, BMI, blood pressure and lipids are increased in the plaque group as compared with the IMT normal group. However, blood uric acid level can not be used as an independent risk factor for IMT lesions. Key words: Uric Acid; Atherosclerosis; Carotid arteries