Hyperuricemia and cardiovascular disease in patients with hypertension

Background: Little is known about the role of serum uric acid in cardiovascular events. We studied the prevalence of hyperuricemia and the association between uric acid level and various cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on a population of patients with hypertension who attended a hypertension clinic in a university hospital in Bogotá, Colombia. Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression models were utilized to investigate the relationship between hyperuricemia and cardiovascular risk factors. Results: The study population included 444 patients. The overall prevalence of hyperuricemia was 28.8%. Male gender (OR 2.3), age (OR 1.03), BMI (OR 1.09), triglyceride level (OR 1.005) and low HDL (OR 0.96) were significantly associated with hyperuricemia. Conclusions: Prevalence of hyperuricemia is high in patients with hypertension. Serum uric acid is significantly associated with parameters of the metabolic syndrome. Hyperuricemia should be acknowledged and monitored as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.