SERUM URIC ACID PREDICTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF HYPERTENSION IN A SAMPLE OF MALE NORMOTENSIVE ADULTS: 1B.07

Abstract

Objective: Cross-sectional and prospective studies showed that serum uric acid levels (SUA) and hypertension (HPT) are related. Our aim was to evaluate this relationship in a sample of healthy male adults, during an 8 year follow-up, in the Olivetti Heart Study. Methods: The population sample was made of 253 participants (mean age 49.5 years, range 26–71) examined both at the beginning (1994–95) and at the end of follow-up (2002–04). The participants were included in the analysis if at baseline they were non-diabetic, normotensive, not on pharmacological treatment for HPT, they had blood pressure (BP) less than 130/85 mmHg and normal renal function (creatinine clearance – CrCl > 60 ml/min). Results: Baseline SUA was directly related to BMI (r = 0.27; p < 0.0001), diastolic BP (r = 0.22; p < 0.0001) and HOMA index (r = 0.28; p < 0.0001) and inversely related to CrCl (r = −0.14; p = 0.02). The incidence of HPT (BP> = 140 and/or 90 mmHg or anti-hypertensive treatment) over 8 years was 45%. The participants who developed HPT had higher basal SUA compared with participants who did not (M ± SE: 5.76 ± 0.11 vs 5.36 ± 0.09 mg/dL; p = 0.006). Logistic regression analysis showed that standardised basal SUA significantly predicted the risk to develop HPT during 8 years (for 1SD higher SUA: OR = 1.40, 95% C.I. 1.06 to 1.86, p = 0.018), after adjustement for age, BMI, SBP, CrCl and HOMA index at baseline. Conclusions: This study revealed the predictive role of SUA on the development of hypertension in previously non diabetic normotensive subjects with normal renal function.