Abstract:

Objective The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of hyperuricemia in people with cardiovascular risk factors and the relationship between serum uric acid levels and the various cardiovascular risk factors. Methods This study was performed through cross-sectional survey. Patients with cardiovascular risk factors were enrolled from June 2004 to December 2004 consecutively. Serum uric acid was measured and data were analyzed to investigate the prevalence of hyperuricemia both in men and women, and to identify the risk factors. Results 1600 patients were enrolled (821 men and 779 women ranging from 26 to 99 years old). The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 20.58% in men and 30.55% in women. Hyperuricemia was positively correlated with hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, high level of serum creatinine, and the administration of diuretics in men, and was positively correlated with age, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hypo-HDL cholesterolemia, high level of serum creatinine, and the administration of diuretics in women as well. The proportion of hyperuricemic patients with 3 or more risk factors is higher than that of non-hyperuricemic patients (76.92 vs 59.67% in men; 67.64% vs 46.77% in women). Conclusion The prevalence of hyperuricemia in patients with cardiovascular risk factors is high. Cardiovascular risk factors often cluster in hyperuricemia patients. The prevalence of hyperuricemia in women is higher than that in man. Apart from hypertention, hypercholesterolemia, high level of serum creatinine and the use of diuretics, hyperuricemia are also positively correlated with age and hypo-HDL cholesterolemia in women.

Key words: hyperuricemia, cardiovascular disease, risk factors