Does elevated serum uric acid level predict the hypertension incidence? A Chinese prospective cohort study

Hyperuricemia is an independent risk factor for hypertension. This study aims to investigate whether SUA predicts 2-year incidence of hypertension in population with pre-hypertension and ideal blood pressure in Tianjin, China.

In this population-based prospective study, we analyzed 608 subjects (455 women) aged 40-70 with non-hypertension (SBP < 140 mmHg and DBP < 90 mmHg) who were recruited with stratified cluster sampling method across six districts of Tianjin in 2011-2012. Participants were divided into pre-hypertensive group (group P) and ideal blood pressure group (group I) according to their first physical examination. After 2 years follow-up, the second physical examination was taken on the same crowd. The 2-year hypertension incidence rate in group P (35.6%) was higher than that of group I (8.3%) (p < 0.05). In group P, the hypertension incidence rate increased with the increase of SUA quartiles. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the odd ratio (OR) between the highest SUA quartile group and the lowest SUA quartile group in group P were 2.02 (1.04-3.92), 3.34 (1.10-10.04) in men and 2.43 (1.08-5.45) in women (p < 0.05). However, there is no significant correlation between SUA and the risk for hypertension incidence in group I. Multiple linear regression showed that the SBP increased 0.017 mmHg with the increasing of 1 μmol/L deviation of SUA in group P.

SUA levels predict SBP elevation and hypertension incidence in population with pre-hypertension, however, do not predict the DBP elevation in pre-hypertensive population as well as change of BP in ideal blood pressure population.