MPS 17-06 Baseline and change in uric acid concentration over time are associated with incident hypertension in large Korean cohort

Abstract

Objective: It is uncertain whether high baseline uric acid (UA) or change in UA concentration over time is related to development of incident hypertension. To investigate relationships between: a) baseline serum uric acid concentration and b) change in UA concentration and incident hypertension. Design and Method: 96,606 Korean individuals (with follow up UA data available for 56,085 people) participating in a health check program was undertaken. Cox regression models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for incident hypertension comparing baseline UA quartiles to the lowest UA quartile, and comparing individuals with an increase in UA to those with a decrease in UA concentration over time. Results: 96606 individuals were followed for up to 8 years (median follow-up 3.3 years; IQR, 1.9 to 5.1). 10,405 cases of incident hypertension occurred. In the fully adjusted regression model, there was a significant increase in aHR across increasing UA quartiles at baseline (p value for trend < 0.001 and 0.001 in men and women, respectively), with aHRs comparing the highest to the lowest UA quartiles of 1.29 (95% CI 1.20, 1.39) in men and 1.24 (95% CI 1.09, 1.42) in women. Additionally, stable or increasing UA concentration over time was associated with increased risk of incident hypertension, particularly in participants with baseline UA concentration ≥median (aHRs 1.14 [95% 1.03–1.26] and 1.17 [95% 0.98–1.40] in men and women, respectively). Conclusions: High initial UA concentration and increases in UA concentration over time should be considered independent risk factors for hypertension.