Serum uric acid and prehypertension among Chinese adults

Raised blood pressure is emerging as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. We examined the relation between serum uric acid and prehypertension and the modification effects of age, obesity, fasting glucose, and lipids in Chinese adults.

The study samples are from a community-based health examination survey in China. A total of 14 451 patients with normal range of blood pressure were included.

The odds ratios [ORs, 95% confidence interval (CI)] of prehypertension across increasing quintiles of serum uric acid were 1.00, 1.04 (0.92-1.18), 1.21 (1.06-1.38), 1.26 (1.09-1.45), and 1.36 (1.17-1.58) (P for trend < 0.0001), adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, glucose, and lipids. The regression splines suggested a possible threshold effect for serum uric acid of approximately 200 micromol/l on prehypertension risk. The associations were significant in both men and women, but was not significant in older individuals aged above 60 years. In addition, fasting glucose significantly interacted with uric acid (P for interaction < 0.0001). The associations were more evident in patients with low (P = 0.0005) and median glucose levels (P = 0.002) than in those with high glucose levels.

Serum uric acid was associated with prehypertension, independent of metabolic risk factors. The associations were not significant in old individuals. Fasting glucose may modify the associations.