Hyperuricemia predicts the risk for developing hypertension independent of alcohol drinking status in men and women: the Saku study

Hypertens Res. 2020 May;43(5):442-449. doi: 10.1038/s41440-019-0361-0. Epub 2019 Nov 27.

Abstract

Hyperuricemia has been reported to be a risk factor for hypertension, but this association may be affected by alcohol consumption. This study aimed to investigate whether hyperuricemia remains a risk factor for hypertension after eliminating the effect of alcohol consumption. This study comprised 7848 participants (4247 men and 3601 women) aged 30-74 years without hypertension who had undergone a medical checkup between April 2008 and March 2009 at Saku Central Hospital, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Hyperuricemia was defined as uric acid >7.0 mg/dl in men, ≥6.0 mg/dl in women, and/or receiving treatment for hyperuricemia or gout. The incidence of hypertension was defined as the first diagnoses of blood pressure ≥140/≥ 90 mmHg and/or initiations of antihypertensive drug treatment. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of hyperuricemia for the incidence of hypertension after adjustment for and classification by alcohol consumption were estimated using the Cox proportional hazard model. During a mean of 4.0 years of follow-up, 1679 individuals developed hypertension. After adjustment for alcohol consumption, the HRs (95% confidence interval) associated with hyperuricemia were 1.37 (1.19-1.58) in men and 1.54 (1.14-2.06) in women. Among nondrinkers, the HR was 1.29 (0.94-1.78) in men with hyperuricemia compared with men without, and the corresponding HR was 1.57 (1.11-2.22) in women. The corresponding HR was 1.88 (1.27-2.86) in all participants with baseline blood pressure <120/80 mmHg. The interactions between hyperuricemia and sex (P = 0.534) and between drinking and sex (P = 0.713) were not significant. In conclusion, hyperuricemia predicts the risk for developing hypertension independent of alcohol drinking status.

Keywords: Alcohol; cohort study; hypertension; hyperuricemia.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alcohol Drinking / adverse effects
  • Alcohol Drinking / blood
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / blood
  • Hypertension / epidemiology*
  • Hypertension / etiology
  • Hyperuricemia / blood
  • Hyperuricemia / complications*
  • Incidence
  • Japan
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk
  • Uric Acid / blood*

Substances

  • Uric Acid