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Relationships between serum uric acid, adiponectin and arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women
Jong Suk Park1, Shinae Kang, Chul Woo Ahn
1Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Insights
Serum uric acid is linked to arterial stiffness and lower adiponectin levels in postmenopausal women. This suggests uric acid may play a role in cardiovascular disease risk for this demographic.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major health concern for postmenopausal women.
- Elevated serum uric acid, low adiponectin, and arterial stiffness are risk factors for CVD.
- The interrelationships among these factors in postmenopausal women require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations between serum uric acid, adiponectin levels, and arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women.
- To determine if serum uric acid is an independent predictor of arterial stiffness in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 841 postmenopausal women aged 50 years and older.
- Measurements included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), serum uric acid, adiponectin, glucose, lipids, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).
- Arterial stiffness was assessed using pulse wave velocity (PWV).
Main Results:
- Serum uric acid levels showed a significant correlation with age, BMI, WC, triglycerides, HDL-C, insulin, HOMA-IR, adiponectin, and PWV.
- Higher uric acid levels were associated with increased PWV and decreased adiponectin levels.
- Multiple regression analysis identified WC, HOMA-IR, adiponectin, and PWV as independent correlates of uric acid. Uric acid was an independent contributor to increased PWV.
Conclusions:
- Serum uric acid is independently associated with arterial stiffness and adiponectin levels in postmenopausal women.
- These findings highlight the potential role of uric acid as a marker and contributor to cardiovascular risk in this demographic.
Objectives:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death in postmenopausal women. Elevated serum uric acid levels, hypoadiponectinemia and arterial stiffness are strongly associated with cardiovascular diseases. We investigated the relationships among uric acid, adiponectin and arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women.
Study Design:
9555 subjects who had the routine health check-ups, 841 postmenopausal women aged 50 years or older who had not had a menstrual period for more than 12 consecutive months were included in this study.
Main Outcome Measures:
BMI, WC, and serum concentrations of uric acid, adiponectin, glucose, lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol) were measured. Insulin resistance was estimated by the insulin resistance index of homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was evaluated to assess arterial stiffness.
Results:
The subjects were stratified into three groups according to uric acid values. PWV values gradually increased and adiponectin level decreased with uric acid tertiles. Serum uric acid levels in postmenopausal women correlated significantly with age, BMI, WC, TG, HDL-C, insulin, HOMA-IR, adiponectin and PWV. Multiple regression analysis showed that WC (β=0.141, P<0.01), HOMA (β=0.137, P<0.01), adiponectin (β=-0.104, P<0.01), and PWV (β=0.129, P<0.01) were independently correlated with uric acid levels. In multiple logistic regression analysis after adjusting for risk factors, uric acid was a significant contributor to increased PWV.
Conclusions:
These findings indicate that serum uric acid is independently associated with adiponectin and arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women.
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