Role of hyperuricemia in patients with essential hypertension: A hospital-based case–control study

Abstract

Background: Essential hypertension (EHT) poses as a major health issue in developed countries. It shows a strong association with cardiovascular disease and significantly contributes to patient morbidity and mortality, as well as economic burden. The association of hyperuricemia with EHT is demonstrated by several researchers. It is postulated that increased serum uric acid (SUA) level is thought to play a pathogenic role in the evolution of EHT. Aim and Objective: The aim of this study was to establish the relationship between SUA and EHT and also to determine the correlation coefficient between SUA levels and blood pressure (BP) in subjects with EHT. Materials and Methods: This hospital-based case–control study included 50 newly diagnosed and untreated hypertensive patients of all genders in age group of 35–65 years having BP ≥140/90 mm Hg as cases. Fifty age- and sex-matched and normotensive subjects were included as controls. Patients with history of diabetes mellitus, renal diseases, chronic liver disease, familial hyperlipidemia, gout, smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, and patients on lipid lowering drugs were excluded from the study. SUA was measured in all study and control subjects by standard method. Results: Mean SUA level was significantly higher in EHT group (7.83 ± 0.16) as compared to control group (4.99 ± 0.31) (P < 0.001). Positive and significant correlation was found between SUA and systolic BP (R2 = 0.59, P < 0.001), diastolic BP (DBP) (R2 = 0.59, P < 0.001), and mean BP (R2 = 0.62, P < 0.001). Hyperuricemia was observed in significantly higher proportion in cases (n = 47, 94%) as compared to controls (n = 6, 12%) (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Increased SUA level has significant association with EHT after regulating several confounding factors. The count of hyperuricemic individuals as well as mean SUA level was significantly higher in newly diagnosed cases of hypertension in comparison to normotensive controls. There was significant positive association between SUA and BP in hypertensive cases.