Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 11, 2026
Echocardiographic Assessment Using Subxiphoid-Only Examination for Hypotensive Patients
Published on: April 18, 2025
Subclinical Cardiac Dysfunction in Hyperuricemic Gout and Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia: A Comparative Echocardiographic
Rufang Jiang1, Wen Wen1, Qinze Li1
1Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Insights
Gout patients show more subclinical cardiac dysfunction than asymptomatic hyperuricemic individuals. Risk factors for cardiac impairment differ between these groups, necessitating tailored monitoring for hyperuricemia-related heart conditions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Rheumatology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Hyperuricemia is linked to cardiovascular disease.
- Subclinical cardiac dysfunction may precede overt heart failure.
- Gout patients represent a specific hyperuricemic population with potential cardiac risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare echocardiographic parameters between gout patients and asymptomatic hyperuricemic individuals.
- To identify predictors of subclinical cardiac dysfunction in hyperuricemic populations.
- To investigate differing mechanisms of cardiac involvement in gout versus asymptomatic hyperuricemia.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study of 202 hyperuricemic patients (100 gout, 102 asymptomatic).
- Conventional echocardiography and 2D speckle-tracking were used.
- Biochemical markers, demographic data, and regression analyses were employed.
Main Results:
- Gout patients exhibited higher left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) prevalence and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS).
- Serum uric acid correlated with GLS in gout patients; BMI and cholesterol correlated with LVEF.
- Triglycerides correlated with GLS and global circumferential strain in asymptomatic patients.
Conclusions:
- Gout and asymptomatic hyperuricemia present distinct echocardiographic profiles and risk factors for cardiac impairment.
- Tailored cardiovascular monitoring strategies are essential for hyperuricemic populations.
- Understanding differing mechanisms of cardiac involvement is crucial for patient management.
Objective:
This study examines subclinical cardiac dysfunction in hyperuricemic populations by comparing echocardiographic parameters-including left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD), which reflects impaired ventricular relaxation, and left ventricular strain parameters, sensitive markers of early systolic dysfunction-between gout patients and asymptomatic hyperuricemic controls, and identifying echocardiographic and clinical predictors of cardiac impairment.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 202 hyperuricemic patients (100 gout and 102 asymptomatic hyperuricemic patients) from a tertiary rheumatology center (June 2021-May 2023). A comprehensive evaluation included conventional echocardiography and two-dimensional speckle-tracking. Biochemical indexes such as serum uric acid (SUA), lipid profiles, and renal function markers, along with demographic data, were collected. Group comparisons, univariate and multivariate regression analyses, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses assessed associations between echocardiographic parameters and clinical variables.
Results:
Gout patients had a significantly higher prevalence of LVDD (31.00% vs 10.78%, P<0.001), a lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (60.01±3.92 vs 65.85±3.78, P<0.001), and a lower absolute value of global longitudinal strain (GLS) (17.72 vs 19.68, P<0.001) compared to asymptomatic hyperuricemic patients. SUA positively correlated with GLS (β=0.236, P<0.05) in gout patients, while body mass index (BMI) and total cholesterol negatively correlated with LVEF (β=-0.248; -0.280, respectively, both P<0.05). In asymptomatic patients, triglycerides positively correlated with GLS and global circumferential strain (β=0.355; 0.310, both P<0.05). Risk factors for LVDD differed: gout patients showed BMI, creatinine, and course-dependent risks, while asymptomatic patients exhibited BMI and β2 microglobulin-related risks.
Conclusion:
Distinct echocardiographic profiles and risk factor patterns in gout versus asymptomatic hyperuricemia suggest differing mechanisms of cardiac involvement, underscoring the need for tailored cardiovascular monitoring in hyperuricemic populations.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
01:17Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System I:Echocardiography
Indications: Echocardiography is utilized to diagnose heart failure, valve disorders, and myocardial infarction. It also assesses cardiac structures' size, shape, and motion,...
01:20Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System II:Types of Echocardiography
Types of Echocardiography
Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)
TTE is the most common type of echocardiogram which involves placing a transducer on the patient's chest, emitting sound waves to create heart images. TTE is invaluable for evaluating the heart's size, structure, and motion, making it particularly useful for...
01:30Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies
01:30Dysrhythmias V: Evaluating Dysrhythmias
01:19Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...