[Uricemia and metabolic syndrome in patients with arterial hypertension]

Abstract

Objective: Serum urate levels have been associated with metabolic syndrome (MS). However, the relationship between these two variables in patients with essential arterial hypertension has not been studied.

Patients and methods: A Cross-sectional study in 592 patients with essential hypertension. The MS was defined according to the ATP-III criteria. We excluded patients with hypouricemic treatment.

Results: The prevalence of MS was 52% (95% CI, 48-56%) and there was a graded increase with increasing serum urate (uricemia ≤ 4.7 mg/dl, 36%; uricemia ≥ 6.8 mg/dl, 70%, P < 0.001). Hypertensive patients with MS showed a higher mean uricemia than those without this comorbidity (6.1 ± 1.5 mg/dl versus 5.4 ± 1.3 mg/dl, P < 0.0001). The prevalence of hyperuricemia (men, > 7.0 mg/dL; women, > 6.0 mg/dL) in hypertensive patients without diuretic treatment, was 24% (in those with MS 40% versus 11% without MS). In multivariate analysis, triglycerides (OR = 1.008, CI 95%: 1.004-1.012, P < 0.001) and body mass index (BMI) (OR = 1.118, CI 95%: 1.059-1.181, P < 0.001), were independent predictors of serum uric acid levels.

Conclusions: In patients with essential hypertension, about half have MS and one out of four has hyperuricemia. The most important determinant of hyperuricemia is BMI.