Serum uric acid concentration and asymptomatic hyperuricemia with subclinical organ damage in general population

We assessed the effect of increased serum uric acid (SUA) concentration and hyperuricemia on subclinical organ damage. A cross-sectional examination of 1243 asymptomatic patients aged 55 to 84 years was conducted from September to October 2012. All participants underwent the measurements of SUA and other established cardiovascular (CV) risk factors. A morning spot urine sample was collected to detect microalbuminuria, and carotid plaque was scanned by B-mode ultrasound; the cardioankle vascular index and ankle-brachial index were obtained to evaluate arterial stiffness and peripheral artery disease (PAD), respectively. After adjustment for established CV risk factors, multiple logistic regression analyses showed that the highest quartile of SUA concentration and hyperuricemia had an independent association with PAD (respective odds ratios: 3.86 [1.26-11.83] and 2.33 [1.14-4.77]); this association maintained significantly in males but disappeared in females. Serum uric acid concentration and hyperuricemia are significantly associated with PAD in males.