Association of Hyperuricemia with Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Cardiac Structural Changes in Patients Undergoing...

BACKGROUND Hyperuricemia in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, although its role remains controversial. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of hyperuricemia and its association with cardiovascular disease risk factors among patients undergoing MHD in Southwest China. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study included 99 patients who underwent MHD at the Blood Purification Center of the Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University. We statistically analyzed the general characteristics, physical indicators, biochemical markers, and cardiac ultrasound parameters. We examined the correlation between serum uric acid levels and cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS Logistic regression analysis revealed that heavy smoking and higher abdominal fat thickness, waist circumference, and systolic blood pressure were significantly associated with elevated serum uric acid levels. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that, compared with patients with normal uric acid levels, those with elevated levels showed gradual increases in triglycerides, C-reactive protein, parathyroid hormone, homocysteine, left ventricular posterior wall thickness, interventricular septum thickness, and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter. In contrast, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and left ventricular ejection fraction progressively decreased. CONCLUSIONS In patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, hyperuricemia is closely associated with heavy smoking and abdominal obesity. These associations may increase cardiovascular risk through multiple pathways, including changes in biochemical markers (eg, triglycerides, C-reactive protein) and alterations in cardiac structure. Moreover, this risk increased proportionally with higher serum uric acid levels.