Association of High Serum Uric Acid With Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease in the Rheumatology Clinic of a Tertiary Care Hospital of Karachi

Introduction: Uric acid is the end product of purine metabolism in humans due to the loss of uricase activity. Elevated uric acid is one of the metabolic abnormalities associated with cardiovascular disease. There are some studies found that hyperuricemia has been linked with cardiovascular diseases. Hyperuricemia predispose to the development of hypertension and is also thought to result in increased oxidative stress and generation of free radicals, which eventually can be the nidus of future cardiovascular disease. Objective: To determine the association of high serum uric acid with risk factors of cardiovascular disease (obesity, hyperuricemia, diabetes or hypertension). This Cross sectional comparative study was carried out in Tertiary Care Unit of Karachi, Pakistan from Feb, 2013 till September, 2013. Methods: A total of 120 subjects of both sexes were taken and divided into two groups. Fasting glucose levels, serum uric acid was done. Those with hyperuricemia were taken as cases and individuals with normal level were taken as controls. Lipid profile was performed in both groups by enzymatic kit . The data feeding and analysis was done on computer package SPSS (Statistical Packages of Social Sciences) version 16.0. The results were given in the mean and Standard Deviation (SD) i.e. age, weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI), fasting blood sugar, serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride, Low Density Lipoprotein C (LDL-C), High Density Lipoprotein C (HDL-C), Very Low Density Lipoprotein C (VLDL-C) and serum uric acid. T-test was used for comparison between control and hyperuricemic patients group. In statistical analysis (p<0.01) was considered statistically significant. Results: This study showed significantly raised levels of fasting blood glucose, serum cholesterol, LDL-C, triglyceride, systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hyperuricemic patients when compared to healthy control group (p<0.01). Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that high serum uric acid is associated with risk factors of cardiovascular disease thus hyperuricemia may results in cardiovascular disease.