Association between serum uric acid, hypertension, vascular stiffness and subclinical atherosclerosis: data from the Brisighella Heart Study

Associations of serum uric acid, risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and mortality: results from NHANES

BACKGROUND

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) has long been recognized as a significant contributor to mortality rates, holding a prominent position in the hierarchy of causes of death. Nevertheless, the presence of a causal relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) and the risk of ASCVD, as well as mortality rates, remains unclear.

METHODS

We initially conducted a comprehensive cohort study utilizing data sourced from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2018 to investigate the specific correlation between SUA levels and ASCVD. Then, we subsequently examined the link between SUA levels and all-cause and cardio-cerebrovascular mortality among ASCVD individuals.

RESULTS

We identified a U-shaped relationship between SUA levels and the risk of ASCVD in all participants (inflection point at 5.399, p value = 0.014). Similarly, SUA levels showed U-shaped trends with all-cause mortality (inflection point at 5.748, p value < 0.0001) and cardio-cerebrovascular mortality (inflection point at 5.936, p value < 0.0001), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate a U-shaped association between SUA levels and the risks of ASCVD, all-cause mortality, and cardio-cerebrovascular mortality. However, further research is needed to better understand how SUA affects ASCVD and its underlying mechanisms.

Understanding Hypertension: A Metabolomic Perspective

Metabolomics approaches, such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry (MS), have emerged as powerful tools for studying cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including hypertension. The use of biological fluids, like plasma and serum, has garnered significant interest due to their accessibility and potential in elucidating disease mechanisms. This review aims to summarize the current literature on the application of metabolomics techniques (FTIR, NMR, and MS) in the study of hypertension, focusing on their contributions to understanding disease pathophysiology, biomarker discovery, and therapeutic advancements. A comprehensive analysis of metabolomic studies was performed, with a particular emphasis on the diversity of altered metabolites associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and sex-related differences. Metabolomics techniques, including FTIR, NMR, and MS, provide comprehensive insights into the biochemical alterations underlying hypertension, such as amino acid and fatty acid metabolism impairment or inflammation and oxidative stress processes. This review underscores their role in advancing biomarker identification, deepening our understanding of disease mechanisms, and supporting the development of targeted therapeutic strategies. The integration of these tools highlights their potential in personalized medicine and their capacity to improve clinical outcomes.

Identification of effect modifiers using a stratified Mendelian randomization algorithmic framework

Mendelian randomization (MR) is a technique which uses genetic data to uncover causal relationships between variables. With the growing availability of large-scale biobank data, there is increasing interest in elucidating nuances in these relationships using MR. Stratified MR techniques such as doubly-ranked MR (DRMR) and residual stratification MR have been developed to identify nonlinearity in causal relationships. These methods calculate causal estimates within strata of the exposure adjusted to mitigate the impact of collider bias. However, their application to scenarios using a stratifying variable other than the exposure to identify the presence of effect modifiers has been limited. The reliable identification of effect modifiers is key to identifying subgroups of patients differentially affected by risk and protective factors. In this study, we present a stratified MR algorithm capable of identifying effect modifiers of causal relationships using adapted forms of DRMR and residual stratification MR. Through simulations, the algorithm was found to be robust at handling nonlinear relationships and forms of collider bias, accommodating both binary and continuous outcomes. Application of the stratified MR algorithm to 1,715 exposure-stratifying variable-outcome combinations identified two Bonferroni significant effect modifiers of causal relationships in the UK Biobank. The causal effect of body mass index on type 2 diabetes mellitus was attenuated with age, while the effect of LDL cholesterol on coronary artery disease was exacerbated with increased serum urate. Overall, we introduce a tool for detecting effect modifiers of causal relationships, and present two cases with clinical implications for personalized risk assessment of cardiometabolic diseases.

Correlations of serum uric acid, fibrinogen and homocysteine levels with carotid atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients

Objective

Uric acid (UA), fibrinogen (FIB), and homocysteine (Hcy) are the main contributors to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and are related to hypertension. Hypertension plays a role in atherosclerosis (CAS). We hence explored the correlations of UA, FIB, and Hcy levels with CAS in hypertensive patients.

Methods

Totally 170 hypertensive patients were retrospectively included and assigned into the Non-sclerosis, Thickened, and Plaque groups based on carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), with serum UA, FIB, and Hcy compared. Correlations of UA, FIB, and Hcy with cIMT and carotid atherosclerotic plaque (CAP) were assessed using Spearman's correlation analysis. The risk factors of CAS were evaluated by logistic multivariate regression analysis. The predictive value of UA, FIB, and Hcy for CAS was estimated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

Results

UA, FIB, and Hcy were up-regulated in the Plaque group vs. other two groups. Serum UA, FIB, and Hcy were positively linked to cIMT and CAP, and were independent risk factors for CAS. The area under ROC curve of UA, FIB, Hcy levels and their combination for predicting CAS were 0.889, 0.855, 0.902, and 0.958, respectively. Hypertensive patients with high levels of UA, FIB, or Hcy were more likely to develop CAS.

Conclusion

Serum UA, FIB, and Hcy are positively correlated with cIMT and CAP, and are independent risk factors for CAS in hypertensive patients. High UA, FIB and Hcy expression could assist in predicting CAS in patients with hypertension, and the combination of the three was more valuable than all three alone.

The new definition of metabolic syndrome including hyperuricemia improves its prognostic value: results from NHANES database

BACKGROUND

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a significant global health issue that is strongly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). While MetS was initially proposed to identify more high-risk individuals and facilitate early management, hyperuricemia has not yet been included in its definition, despite its strong association with MetS. This study aims to explore the prognostic value of incorporating hyperuricemia into the definition of MetS.

METHODS

Data derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 1999 and 2018 were analyzed. The old version of MetS (MetSold) aligned with NCEP-ATP III criteria, whereas the new version of MetS (MetSnew) included hyperuricemia as a sixth criterion. Baseline characteristics were compared between participants with and without MetS, and outcomes were assessed by multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Among the 36,363 participants analyzed, 12,594 (34.6%) and 14,137 (38.9%) met MetSold and MetSnew criteriarespectively. Compared to MetSold, MetSnew identified additional 1534(4.24%) participants at metabolic risk. Both MetSold and MetSnew were significantly associated with long-term all-cause and CVD mortality (all P < 0.001). Furthermore, the additional participants identified by MetSnew exhibited a similar risk of all-cause and CVD mortality as those meeting MetSold criteria. MetSnew demonstrated enhanced identification and reclassification abilities compared to MetSold, as evidenced by improvement in C-index, NRI and IDI.

CONCLUSIONS

The inclusion of hyperuricemia in the MetS criteria could identify a larger proportion of individuals at metabolic risk, thereby facilitating early management to prevent long-term adverse events.

Childhood body size, adulthood adiposity, underlying mechanisms, and risk of incident hypertension: a prospective cohort study of 180,527 participants

BACKGROUND

Mechanisms underlying the association of life-course adiposity with incident hypertension in adulthood have not been comprehensively investigated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential biochemical and metabolomic mechanisms underlying the association between adiposity and incident hypertension.

METHODS

A total of 180,527 participants from the UK Biobank aged 37 to 73 years were included. Associations of childhood body size or adulthood adiposity status as well as child-adult weight status change with incident adulthood hypertension were estimated by multivariate Cox proportional regression models.

RESULTS

Participants with childhood thinner body size and adulthood obesity had the highest risk of incident hypertension (hazard ratio, HR = 3.09, 95% CI = 2.88-3.32) compared with those with "average → normal" pattern, followed by those with "average → obese" pattern (HR = 2.45, 95% CI = 2.31-2.61) and "plumper → obese" pattern (HR = 2.82, 95% CI = 2.62-3.02). Of note, those with "plumper → normal" pattern (HR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.00-1.23) and "thinner → normal" pattern (HR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.10-1.24) had the second and third lowest risk of incident hypertension. Adulthood overweight (mediation proportion: 58.7%, 95% CI: 40.4-74.8%) or obesity (mediation proportion = 46.7%, 95% CI: 29.4-64.9%) largely mediated the association between childhood plumper body size and hypertension. The association between adiposity and hypertension was mediated by biochemical indices (e.g., liver function, immunometabolism) and metabolites (e.g., alanine aminotransferase, apolipoprotein A) (mediation proportions ranging from 3.2 to 23.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

Thinner or plumper body size in childhood increases the risk of incident adulthood hypertension, and adulthood adiposity partly mediated this association, suggesting the importance of maintaining normal weight across the life course. Several biochemical indices and metabolites mediated these associations providing clues to underlying biological mechanisms.

Early onset of hyperuricemia is associated with the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease across life course

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Hyperuricemia is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), whereas whether the association differed by hyperuricemia onset age remained unclear. This study sought to investigate the associations of hyperuricemia onset age with the risk of incident NAFLD across adulthood.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Based on Kailuan prospective cohort, our analysis comprised 3318 new-onset hyperuricemia cases from 2006 to 2015 and 3318 age- and sex-matched controls who were randomly selected from the general population. The risk of NAFLD across the onset age groups (<45, 45-54, 55-64, and ≥65 years) were compared using multivariable-adjusted Cox regression models. During a median follow-up of 6.78 years, 744 (22.42%) hyperuricemia participants and 586 (17.66%) normouricemia participants were diagnosed with incident NAFLD. After adjusted for potential confounders, the risk of NAFLD was gradually attenuated with each decade increase in hyperuricemia onset age. The adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) was 1.62 (1.33-1.97) for hyperuricemia onset age <45 years, 1.26 (1.01-1.57) for age of 45-54 years, 1.24 (1.00-1.59) for age of 55-64 years, and 1.19 (0.90-1.71) for age ≥65 years, respectively. The trend remained robust among the multiple sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

The relative risk of incident NAFLD differed across hyperuricemia onset age-group, and the association was more evident in those with a younger age of hyperuricemia onset, highlighting the importance of performing early strategies on the prevention of NAFLD.

Potential Opportunities for Pharmacogenetic-Based Therapeutic Exploitation of Xanthine Dehydrogenase in Cardiovascular Disease

The majority of naturally occurring mutations of the human gene XDH, are associated with reduced or completely absent xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) activity, leading to a disease known as classical xanthinuria, which is due to the accumulation and excretion of xanthine in urine. Three types of classical xanthinuria have been identified: type I, characterised by XOR deficiency, type II, caused by XOR and aldehyde oxidase (AO) deficiency, and type III due to XOR, AO, and sulphite oxidase (SO) deficiency. Type I and II are considered rare autosomal recessive disorders, a condition where two copies of the mutated gene must be present to develop the disease or trait. In most cases, xanthinuria type I and II result to be asymptomatic, and only occasionally lead to renal failure due to urolithiasis caused by xanthine deposition. However, in the last 10-15 years, new observations have been made about the link between naturally occurring mutations and pathological phenotypes particularly pertinent to cardiovascular diseases (CVD). These links have been attributed to a genetically driven increase of XOR expression and activity that is responsible for what is thought to be damaging uric acid (UA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, nitric oxide (·NO) depletion and endothelial dysfunction. In this review, we discuss the importance of genetics for interindividual variability of XOR expression and activity while focusing mainly on those variants thought to be relevant for CVD. In addition, we discuss the potential exploitation of the genetically driven increase of XOR activity to deliver more beneficial bioavailable ·NO. Finally, we examine the effect that non-synonymous mutations have on the tertiary structure of the protein and consequently on its capacity to interact with glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) localised on the outer surface of endothelial cells.

Relationship between serum uric acid, nocturnal hypertension and risk for preeclampsia in high-risk pregnancies

To analyze the possible association between serum uric acid (SUA) and nocturnal hypertension and to evaluate the ability of these variables (alone or in combination) to predict preeclampsia (PE) we conducted a historical cohort study in 532 high-risk pregnancies. Women were divided according to SUA values and nocturnal blood pressure (BP) into four groups: 1- normal SUA and nocturnal normotension; 2- high SUA and nocturnal normotension; 3- normal SUA and nocturnal hypertension and 4- high SUA and nocturnal hypertension. High SUA was defined by the top quartile values and nocturnal hypertension as BP ≥ 120/70 mmHg, using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), during nocturnal rest. Risks for PE were compared using logistic regression. SUA had a weak but significant correlation with daytime systolic ABPM (r = 0.11, p = 0.014), daytime diastolic ABPM (r = 0.13, p = 0.004), nighttime systolic ABPM (r = 0.16, p < 0.001) and nighttime diastolic ABPM (r = 0.18, p < 0.001). Also, all ABPM values were higher in women with high SUA. The absolute risk of PE increased through groups: 6.5%, 13.1%, 31.2%, and 47.9% for groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, p < 0.001. Compared with Group 1, Group 3 (OR 6.29 95%CI 3.41-11.60), but not Group 2 (OR 2.15 95%CI 0.88-5.24), had statistically significant higher risk for PE. Group 4 (women with both, high SUA and nocturnal hypertension) had the highest risk (OR 13.11 95%CI 6.69-25.70). Risks remained statistically significant after the adjustment for relevant variables. In conclusion, the combination of SUA > 4 mg/dL and nocturnal BP > 120/70 mmHg implies a very high risk to developed PE.

Serum Uric Acid, Hypertriglyceridemia, and Carotid Plaques: A Sub-Analysis of the URic Acid Right for Heart Health (URRAH) Study

High levels of serum uric acid (SUA) and triglycerides (TG) might promote high-cardiovascular-risk phenotypes, including subclinical atherosclerosis. An interaction between plaques xanthine oxidase (XO) expression, SUA, and HDL-C has been recently postulated. Subjects from the URic acid Right for heArt Health (URRAH) study with carotid ultrasound and without previous cardiovascular diseases (CVD) (n = 6209), followed over 20 years, were included in the analysis. Hypertriglyceridemia (hTG) was defined as TG ≥ 150 mg/dL. Higher levels of SUA (hSUA) were defined as ≥5.6 mg/dL in men and 5.1 mg/dL in women. A carotid plaque was identified in 1742 subjects (28%). SUA and TG predicted carotid plaque (HR 1.09 [1.04-1.27], p < 0.001 and HR 1.25 [1.09-1.45], p < 0.001) in the whole population, independently of age, sex, diabetes, systolic blood pressure, HDL and LDL cholesterol and treatment. Four different groups were identified (normal SUA and TG, hSUA and normal TG, normal SUA and hTG, hSUA and hTG). The prevalence of plaque was progressively greater in subjects with normal SUA and TG (23%), hSUA and normal TG (31%), normal SUA and hTG (34%), and hSUA and hTG (38%) (Chi-square, 0.0001). Logistic regression analysis showed that hSUA and normal TG [HR 1.159 (1.002 to 1.341); p = 0.001], normal SUA and hTG [HR 1.305 (1.057 to 1.611); p = 0.001], and the combination of hUA and hTG [HR 1.539 (1.274 to 1.859); p = 0.001] were associated with a higher risk of plaque. Our findings demonstrate that SUA is independently associated with the presence of carotid plaque and suggest that the combination of hyperuricemia and hypertriglyceridemia is a stronger determinant of carotid plaque than hSUA or hTG taken as single risk factors. The association between SUA and CVD events may be explained in part by a direct association of UA with carotid plaques.

High serum uric acid is a risk factor for arterial stiffness in a Chinese hypertensive population: a cohort study

The prospective cohort study was to explore the association between serum uric acid (SUA) and arterial stiffness in a Chinese hypertensive population. A total of 7444 participants with hypertension who completed two or more measurements of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and baseline SUA detection were followed-up in the Kailuan Study from 2010 to 2020. A restricted cubic spline curve was used to verify whether there was a linear association between baseline SUA and arterial stiffness. A Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to explore the association of between baseline SUA and the incidence of arterial stiffness. Our results showed that the restricted cubic spline curve revealed a linear relationship between baseline SUA and arterial stiffness in total participants (p < 0.001). After follow-up 4.6 ± 2.8 years, Kaplan-Meier survival curves indicated that the risk of arterial stiffness was increased in the high level of baseline SUA (Log-rank p = 0.0002). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the HR (95% CI) for risk of stiffness was 1.33 (1.17-1.52, p < 0.001) in the highest SUA group. Hierarchical analysis showed that the HRs (95% CI) for risk of arterial stiffness were 1.45 (1.25-1.69), 1.38 (1.19-1.60), 1.41 (1.21-1.64), and 1.35 (1.15-1.58) in the highest SUA group of males, <65 years old, not taking antihypertensive drugs, and failure to achieve the control targets of blood pressure respectively (p < 0.001). These results reveal that high SUA is a risk factor for arterial stiffness in the Chinese hypertensive population.

The impact of serum acid, arterial stiffness, and hypertension as a mediating factor: A cohort study

BACKGROUND

Serum uric acid (SUA) has been associated with arterial stiffness. However, previous studies were limited to contradicting cross-sectional studies. This study aimed to examine the longitudinal association between SUA and the progression of arterial stiffness and the potential mechanisms.

METHODS

Based on the Kailuan study, arterial stiffness progression was assessed by the annual growth rate of repeatedly measured brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Generalized linear regression models were used to estimate the association of SUA with baseline arterial stiffness (n = 37,659) and arterial stiffness progression (n = 16,506), and Cox regressions were used to investigate the risk of incident arterial stiffness (n = 13,843). Mediation analysis was used to explore the potential mediators of the associations.

RESULTS

Per standard deviation increase in SUA was associated with an 11.89 cm/s increment (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.60-15.17) in baseline baPWV and a 2.67 cm/s/yr increment in the annual growth rate of baPWV. During the 5.77-year follow-up, there were 1953 cases of incident arterial stiffness. Participants in the highest quartile of SUA had a 39% higher risk of arterial stiffness (HR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.21-1.60), as compared with those in the lowest quartile of SUA. Furthermore, the observed associations were more pronounced in women than in men (Pint<0.05). The pathological pathway from high SUA to arterial stiffness was mainly mediated through hypertension (mediated proportion: 24.74%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicates that SUA was positively associated with the risk of arterial stiffness and its progression, especially in women. The association was mainly mediated through hypertension.

Investigating the nexus of metabolic syndrome, serum uric acid, and dementia risk: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The global dementia prevalence is surging, necessitating research into contributing factors. We aimed to investigate the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS), its components, serum uric acid (SUA) levels, and dementia risk.

METHODS

Our prospective study comprised 466,788 participants without pre-existing MetS from the UK Biobank. We confirmed dementia diagnoses based on the ICD-10 criteria (F00-03). To evaluate the dementia risk concerning MetS, its components, and SUA levels, we applied Cox proportional hazards models, while adjusting for demographic factors.

RESULTS

Over a median follow-up of 12.7 years, we identified 6845 dementia cases. Individuals with MetS had a 25% higher risk of all-cause dementia (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.19-1.31). The risk increased with the number of MetS components including central obesity, dyslipidemia for high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia for triglycerides. Particularly for those with all five components (HR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.51-2.04). Dyslipidemia for HDL cholesterol, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia for triglycerides were independently associated with elevated dementia risk (p < 0.01). MetS was further linked to an increased risk of all-cause dementia (11%) and vascular dementia (VD, 50%) among individuals with SUA levels exceeding 400 μmol/L (all-cause dementia: HR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.02-1.21; VD: HR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.28-1.77).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides robust evidence supporting the association between MetS, its components, and dementia risk. These findings emphasize the importance of considering MetS and SUA levels in assessing dementia risk, offering valuable insights for prevention and management strategies.

Comparison of seven anthropometric indexes to predict hypertension plus hyperuricemia among U.S. adults

Purpose

This study aims to compare the association of hypertension plus hyperuricemia (HTN-HUA) with seven anthropometric indexes. These include the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), lipid accumulation product (LAP), visceral adiposity index (VAI), triglyceride-glucose index (TyG), body roundness index (BRI), a body shape index (ABSI), and the cardiometabolic index (CMI).

Methods

Data was procured from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which recruited a representative population aged 18 years and above to calculate these seven indexes. Logistic regression analysis was employed to delineate their correlation and to compute the odds ratios (OR). Concurrently, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were utilized to evaluate the predictive power of the seven indexes.

Results

A total of 23,478 subjects were included in the study. Among these, 6,537 (27.84%) were patients with HUA alone, 2,015 (8.58%) had HTN alone, and 2,836 (12.08%) had HTN-HUA. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the AIP, LAP, VAI, TyG, BRI, ABSI, and CMI were all significantly associated with concurrent HTN-HUA. The OR for the highest quartile of the seven indexes for HTN-HUA were as follows: AIP was 4.45 (95% CI 3.82-5.18), LAP was 9.52 (95% CI 7.82-11.59), VAI was 4.53 (95% CI 38.9-5.28), TyG was 4.91 (95% CI 4.15-5.80), BRI was 9.08 (95% CI 7.45-11.07), ABSI was 1.71 (95% CI 1.45 -2.02), and CMI was 6.57 (95% CI 5.56-7.76). Notably, LAP and BRI demonstrated significant discriminatory abilities for HTN-HUA, with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.72 (95% CI 0.71 - 0.73) and 0.73 (95% CI 0.72 - 0.74) respectively.

Conclusion

The AIP, LAP, VAI, TyG, BRI, ABSI, and CMI all show significant correlation with HTN-HUA. Notably, both LAP and BRI demonstrate the capability to differentiate cases of HTN-HUA. Among these, BRI is underscored for its effective, non-invasive nature in predicting HTN-HUA, making it a superior choice for early detection and management strategies.

Pipeline Therapies for Gout

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Despite effective available treatments, gout management is often unsuccessful in getting patients to target serum urate goal and in managing flares in the setting of comorbidities. Studies addressing future treatment options for short- and long-term management are reviewed.

RECENT FINDINGS

URAT-1 blocking agents have been helpful but have had limitations related to effects on renal function, lack of efficacy with renal impairment, and potential to increase renal stones. Dotinurad may function in the setting of decreased renal function. Arhalofenate has anti-URAT-1 activity and may also blunt gout flares. A new xanthine oxidase inhibitor (XOI), tigulixostat, is under study. New uricase treatments manufactured in combination with agents that can reduce immunogenicity may make uricase treatment simpler. A unique strategy of inhibiting gut uricase may offer the benefits of avoiding systemic absorption. For gout flares, IL-1β inhibitor studies in progress include different dosing schedules. Dapansutrile, an oral agent under investigation, inhibits activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and may be an effective anti-inflammatory. New treatments for gout that are under study may work in the setting of comorbidities, simplify management, utilize new mechanisms, or have reduced side effects.

Consensus statement on the management of patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia in general medical practice

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Relationship Between Atherogenic Index of Plasma and Serum Uric Acid in Patients With Untreated Essential Hypertension in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Several studies have reported that the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is associated with serum uric acid (SUA) in healthy middle-aged men, kidney transplant patients, and diabetic patients. We assessed the relationship between AIP and SUA in patients with untreated essential hypertension (EH) in China. In the cross-sectional study, we evaluated 5003 patients with untreated EH in China; 1490 were assigned to the hyperuricemia (HUA) group and 3513 to the normouricemia (non-HUA) group according to the diagnostic criteria of HUA (SUA level≥6 mg/dL in females and ≥7 mg/dL in males). A higher AIP level was found in the HUA group (P < .001), and AIP was positively and independently correlated with SUA after adjusting for statistically significant variables (β = .204, P < .001). Moreover, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the AIP was closely and independently related to HUA after adjusting for confounders (odds ratio [OR]: 11.980, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.186-45.047, P < .001). Our findings suggested that the AIP was positively and independently associated with SUA, and elevated AIP might be a significant risk factor for HUA in patients with untreated EH in China.

Bean and Nut Intake Were Protective Factors for Comorbid Hypertension and Hyperuricemia in Chinese Adults: Results from China Nutrition and Health Surveillance (2015-2017)

This study aimed to describe the prevalence of comorbid hypertension and hyperuricemia (HH) and detected the dietary factors for HH in Chinese adults aged 18 to 64 years. All of the data were collected from the China Nutrition and Health Surveillance 2015-2017, with a stratified, multistage, random sampling method on a national scale. A total of 52,627 adult participants aged 18~64 years from the CNHS 2015-2017 were included in this study. HH was identified as SUA level cut-offs for males and females of 420 μmol/L and 360 μmol/L, respectively, with mean systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or mean diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg and/or received antihypertensive treatment within two weeks. The differences in HH prevalence between or among the subgroups were compared by the Rao-Scott chi-square test. The correlations between HH and covariates or metabolic factors were detected by a weighted two-level multivariate survey logistic regression. The total weighted sufficient intake ratios of beans and nuts, vegetables, and red meat were 59.1%, 46.6%, and 64.8%, respectively. The weighted prevalence of HH in the total participants was 4.7% (95% CI: 4.3-5.0%). The positive effects of bean and nut on HH were observed. The participants who had sufficient bean and nut intake showed lower risk for HH (for the total participants: OR = 0.734, 95% CI = 0.611-0.881). The prevalence of HH might have been a public health problem, and bean and nut intake might be a protective factor for HH in the Chinese population.

Serum uric acid predicts the development of atherosclerosis in women but not in men: A ten-year cohort study in China

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Atherosclerosis is becoming a significant health burden. Serum uric acid (SUA) is the final enzymatic product of purine metabolism and can contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to explore the possible predictive value of SUA in the development of atherosclerosis in a healthy Chinese population.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this study, a total of 11,222 healthy subjects with no carotid plaque at baseline were enrolled and divided into sex-specific groups, and then the occurrence of carotid plaque during the follow-up time was documented. The association between carotid plaque and SUA levels was examined using Cox proportional-hazards regression models. The mean SUA level was 5.35 ± 1.41 mg/dL. A total of 2,911 individuals (25.94%) developed carotid plaque during the follow-up time, including 1,071 females and 1,840 males. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) in women for the occurrence of carotid plaque associated with SUA levels were 1.163 (1.017-1.330), but no significant correlation was found in men, as the HR was 1.050 (0.965-1.143).

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that SUA levels predict the development of carotid plaque independent of traditional risk factors only in women.

Natural mutations of human XDH promote the nitrite (NO2-)-reductase capacity of xanthine oxidoreductase: A novel mechanism to promote redox health?

Several rare genetic variations of human XDH have been shown to alter xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) activity leading to impaired purine catabolism. However, XOR is a multi-functional enzyme that depending upon the environmental conditions also expresses oxidase activity leading to both O2·- and H2O2 and nitrite (NO2-) reductase activity leading to nitric oxide (·NO). Since these products express important, and often diametrically opposite, biological activity, consideration of the impact of XOR mutations in the context of each aspect of the biochemical activity of the enzyme is needed to determine the potential full impact of these variants. Herein, we show that known naturally occurring hXDH mutations do not have a uniform impact upon the biochemical activity of the enzyme in terms of uric acid (UA), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide ·NO formation. We show that the His1221Arg mutant, in the presence of xanthine, increases UA, O2·- and NO generation compared to the WT, whilst the Ile703Val increases UA and ·NO formation, but not O2·-. We speculate that this change in the balance of activity of the enzyme is likely to endow those carrying these mutations with a harmful or protective influence over health that may explain the current equipoise underlying the perceived importance of XDH mutations. We also show that, in presence of inorganic NO2-, XOR-driven O2·- production is substantially reduced. We suggest that targeting enzyme activity to enhance the NO2--reductase profile in those carrying such mutations may provide novel therapeutic options, particularly in cardiovascular disease.

Hyperuricemia and coronary heart disease: The mediating role of blood pressure and thrombospondin 3

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Although hyperuricemia is a known risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD), little is known about the role of blood pressure in mediating this association. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of blood pressure-related indicators and Thrombospondin 3 (THBS3) in the association between hyperuricemia and CHD.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Our observational epidemiology study included 593 CHD cases and 760 controls from a residential stable sample. We also chose 43 new CHD patients and 43 controls to test the expression levels of THBS3 using ELISA kits. We used logistic regression models and mediating effect analysis to investigate the relationships between hyperuricemia and CHD, as well as the mediating role of blood pressure-related indicators and THBS3. In the general population (OR: 2.001 [95% CI: 1.528-2.622]), male population (OR: 1.591 [95% CI: 1.119-2.262]), and female population (OR: 2.813 [95% CI: 1.836-4.310]), hyperuricemia is an independent risk factor for CHD. In general, average systolic blood pressure (SBP) and average pulse pressure difference (PPD) mediated 3.35% and 4.59%, respectively, of the association between hyperuricemia and CHD, and 6.60% and 6.60% in women. However, in the male population, we have not yet found that blood pressure-related indicators had a significant mediating effect. Meanwhile, we found that THBS3 mediated 19.23% of the association between hyperuricemia and CHD.

CONCLUSIONS

Average SBP, PPD, and THBS3 all play a role in the association of hyperuricemia and CHD. In the female population, similar mediating results in blood pressure-related indicators were observed.

Hyperuricemia promotes the progression of atherosclerosis by activating endothelial cell pyroptosis via the ROS/NLRP3 pathway

Hyperuricemia closely correlates with the development of atherosclerosis, but little is known of the mechanism by which atherosclerosis progression occurs in hyperuricemia. Atherosclerosis appears to involve pyroptosis, an emerging mechanism of proinflammatory regulated cell death. This study tested the hypothesis that pyroptosis underlies the relationship between hyperuricemia and atherosclerosis, using ApoE-/- mice (a model of atherosclerosis), human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and human atherosclerotic arterial samples. We found that hyperuricemia can aggravate the aortic atherosclerotic plaque-load in ApoE-/- mice and promote endothelial cell pyroptosis. Additionally, hyperuricemia can increase the levels of serum inflammatory factors (including IL-1β and IL-18). Exposure to lipopolysaccharide plus a high concentration of soluble uric acid (≥12 mg/dL) induced cell pyroptosis in HUVECs, as evidenced by increased expression of pyroptosis-related proteins and elevated release of lactate dehydrogenase (a marker of tissue damage). Further, MCC950, a selective nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome inhibitor, and N-acetyl- l-cysteine, an antioxidant, attenuated HUVEC pyroptosis by inhibiting activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Finally, we detected significantly higher expression of pyroptosis-associated proteins in carotid specimens from patients with hyperuricemia. Collectively, our findings suggest that hyperuricemia can aggravate endothelial cell pyroptosis in aortic atherosclerotic plaques, promoting the development of atherosclerosis. Additionally, a high concentration of soluble uric acid can trigger the activation stage of the NLRP3 inflammasome, mediating endothelial cell pyroptosis, and this process is regulated by the cellular ROS level.

Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components Are Associated with New-Onset Hyperuricemia in a Large Taiwanese Population Follow-Up Study

The prevalence rate of hyperuricemia remains high in Taiwan, at 21.6% in men and 9.57% in women. Both metabolic syndrome (MetS) and hyperuricemia can cause many complications; however, few studies have evaluated the correlation between MetS and hyperuricemia. Therefore, in this observational cohort study, we explored associations between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components and new-onset hyperuricemia. Of 27,033 individuals in the Taiwan Biobank who had complete follow-up data, we excluded those with hyperuricemia at baseline (n = 4871), those with gout at baseline (n = 1043), those with no data on baseline uric acid (n = 18), and those with no data on follow-up uric acid (n = 71). The remaining 21,030 participants (mean age 50.8 ± 10.3 years) were enrolled. We found a significant association between new-onset hyperuricemia with MetS and the components of MetS (hypertriglyceridemia, abdominal obesity, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hyperglycemia, and high blood pressure). Furthermore, compared to those without any MetS components, those with one MetS component (OR = 1.816), two MetS components (OR = 2.727), three MetS components (OR = 3.208), four MetS components (OR = 4.256), and five MetS components (OR = 5.282) were significantly associated with new-onset hyperuricemia (all p < 0.001). MetS and its five components were associated with new-onset hyperuricemia in the enrolled participants. Further, an increase in the number of MetS components was associated with an increase in the incidence rate of new-onset hyperuricemia.

Synergetic Association between Anemia and Hyperuricemia on New-Onset Chronic Kidney Disease in a Large Taiwanese Population Follow-Up Study

The incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing worldwide; however, the association between CKD and anemia and hyperuricemia has yet to be clarified. In addition, whether anemia and hyperuricemia only influence renal damage in combination with other comorbidities or whether they are direct causative factors is also controversial. Therefore, the aim of this longitudinal study was to investigate these issues in a large Taiwanese cohort. We enrolled 26,631 participants from the Taiwan Biobank (TWB) after excluding those with CKD at the baseline, all of whom had follow-up data for a median of 4 years. In this study, CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, incident new-onset CKD was defined as the development of CKD during follow-up, anemia was defined as a hemoglobin level <13 mg/dL in males and <12 mg/dL in females, and hyperuricemia was defined as a serum uric acid (UA) level >7 mg/dL in males and >6 mg/dL in females. The participants were divided into four groups according to whether or not they had anemia and hyperuricemia. Multivariable analysis showed that low hemoglobin (per 1 g/dL; odds ratio [OR], 0.760; p < 0.001) and high serum UA (per 1 mg/dL; OR, 1.444; p < 0.001) in model 1 and anemia (OR, 2.367; p < 0.001) and hyperuricemia (OR, 2.516; p < 0.001) in model 2 were significantly associated with new-onset CKD. Furthermore, compared to the group without anemia or hyperuricemia, the groups with anemia without hyperuricemia (OR, 2.502; p < 0.001), without anemia with hyperuricemia (OR, 2.559; p < 0.001), and with anemia and hyperuricemia (OR, 5.505; p < 0.001) were significantly associated with new-onset CKD. There was a significant interaction between hemoglobin and serum UA and new-onset CKD (p < 0.001). In conclusion, we found that anemia and hyperuricemia were associated with new-onset CKD, respectively, and also had a synergetic effect on new-onset CKD.

Hyperuricaemia, gout and related adverse events associated with antihypertensive drugs: A real-world analysis using the FDA adverse event reporting system

Background: The role of antihypertensive drugs in inducing hyperuricaemia and gout has been a long-term concern in clinical practice. However, clinical studies regarding this issue are limited in number and have yielded inconsistent results. We comprehensively evaluated the association between various antihypertensive drugs and the occurrences of hyperuricaemia, gout and related adverse events (AEs) using the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), aiming to guide the selection of antihypertensive drugs with a goal of minimizing the risk of hyperuricaemia, gout and related AEs. Methods: We used OpenVigil 2.1 to query the FAERS database. Hyperuricaemia, gout and related AEs were defined by 5 Preferred Terms: hyperuricaemia, gout, gouty arthritis, gouty tophus and urate nephropathy. Disproportionality analysis was performed, and a positive signal indicated an association between AEs and antihypertensive drugs. Results: The numbers of antihypertensive drugs with positive signals for hyperuricaemia, gout, gouty arthritis, gouty tophus and urate nephropathy were 46, 66, 27, 8 and 6, respectively. These drugs included diuretics, antihypertensive drugs with central action, α blockers, β blockers, α and β blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, renin inhibitors, vasodilators, and compound preparations. Furthermore, 42 antihypertensive drugs had positive signal for more than one AEs. Conclusion: Our study suggests that some potassium-sparing diuretics, calcium channel blockers and losartan may be associated with increased risk of hyperuricaemia, gout or related AEs, which is inconsistent with most previous studies. Moreover, Our study also suggests that some antihypertensive drugs with central action, α and β blockers, renin inhibitors and vasodilators may be associated with increased risk of hyperuricaemia, gout or related AEs, which has not been reported in previous studies. These findings complement real-world evidence on the potential risks of hyperuricaemia, gout and related AEs associated with antihypertensive drugs.

Sex Difference in the Associations among Hyperuricemia with New-Onset Chronic Kidney Disease in a Large Taiwanese Population Follow-Up Study

The global prevalence and incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) continue to increase. Whether hyperuricemia is an independent risk factor for renal progression and whether there are sex differences in the relationships between serum uric acid (UA) and a decline in renal function are unclear. Therefore, in this longitudinal study, we aimed to explore these relationships in a large cohort of around 27,000 Taiwanese participants in the Taiwan Biobank (TWB), and also to identify serum UA cutoff levels in men and women to predict new-onset CKD. A total of 26,942 participants with a median 4 years of complete follow-up data were enrolled from the TWB. We excluded those with CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2) at baseline (n = 297), and the remaining 26,645 participants (males: 9356; females: 17,289) were analyzed. The participants who developed CKD during follow-up were defined as having incident new-onset CKD, and those with a serum UA level >7 mg/dL in males and >6 mg/dL in females were classified as having hyperuricemia. After multivariable analysis, hyperuricemia (odds ratio [OR], 2.541; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.970−3.276; p < 0.001) was significantly associated with new-onset CKD. Furthermore, in the male participants (n = 9356), hyperuricemia (OR, 1.989; 95% CI, 1.440−2.747; p < 0.001), and quartile 4 of UA (vs. quartile 1; OR, 2.279; 95% CI, 1.464−3.547; p < 0.001) were significantly associated with new-onset CKD, while in the female participants (n = 17,289), hyperuricemia (OR, 3.813; 95% CI, 2.500−5.815; p < 0.001), quartile 3 of UA (vs. quartile 1; OR, 3.741; 95% CI, 1.250−11.915; p = 0.018), and quartile 4 of UA (vs. quartile 1; OR, 12.114; 95% CI, 14.278−34.305; p < 0.001) were significantly associated with new-onset CKD. There were significant interactions between hyperuricemia and sex (p = 0.024), and quartiles of serum UA and sex (p = 0.010) on new-onset CKD. Hyperuricemia was associated with new-onset CKD in the enrolled participants, and the interactions between hyperuricemia and sex were statistically significant. Hyperuricemia was more strongly associated with new-onset CKD in the women than in the men.

Uric Acid and Hypertension: a Review of Evidence and Future Perspectives for the Management of Cardiovascular Risk

Uric acid is the final product of purine metabolism, and its increased serum levels have been directly involved in the pathogenesis and natural history of hypertension. The relationship between elevated uric acid and hypertension has been proven in both animals and humans, and its relevance is already evident in childhood and adolescent population. The mechanism responsible for blood pressure increase in hyperuricemic subjects is implicating both oxidative stress and intracellular urate activity with a primary involvement of XOR (xanthine-oxidoreductase activity). An increase in the relative risk of hypertension has been confirmed by genetic data and by large meta-analyses of epidemiological data. The effects of urate-lowering treatment on blood pressure control in patients with elevated serum uric acid has been investigated in a small number of reliable studies with a large heterogeneity of patient populations and study designs. However, 2 large meta-analyses suggest a significant effect of urate-lowering treatment on blood pressure, thus confirming the significant relationship between high serum urate and blood pressure. The future research should be focused on a more appropriate identification of patients with cardiovascular hyperuricemia by considering the correct cardiovascular threshold of serum urate, the time-course of uricemia fluctuations, and the identification of reliable markers of urate overproduction that could significantly clarify the clinical and therapeutic implications of the interaction between serum uric acid and hypertension.

Elevated serum uric acid was associated with pre-inflammatory state and impacted the role of HDL-C on carotid atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Uric acid (UA) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are positively and negatively associated with atherosclerosis, respectively. UA and HDL-C are involved in the balance of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory processes in atherosclerosis. However, it is still unclear whether UA affects the effect of HDL-C on atherosclerosis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this retrospective study, we enrolled 1437 patients with multiple risk factors for atherosclerosis. Patients were categorized into two groups according to their baseline UA level. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic spline curves were used to assess the relationship between HDL-C and carotid atherosclerosis (abnormal carotid intima-media thickness [cIMT] and carotid artery plaque) at different UA levels. Compared to patients with normouricemia, patients with hyperuricemia were older and had a more extensive history of disease and unhealthy behavior. In the normouricemia group, multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (95% CIs) for HDL-C were 0.55 (0.33-0.92) for abnormal mean cIMT, 0.59 (0.35-1.00) for abnormal maximum cIMT, and 0.53 (0.29-0.94) for the occurrence of carotid artery plaque, while the correlation between each of these three indicators with HDL-C were not significant in those with hyperuricemia. Spline regression models yielded similar results. The effect of UA on the association between HDL-C and carotid atherosclerosis remained in the subset of patients with optimal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

CONCLUSION

Elevated UA marks a pre-inflammatory state and impacts the role of HDL-C on carotid atherosclerosis.

Metabolomics of Arterial Stiffness

Arterial stiffness (AS) is one of the earliest detectable signs of structural and functional alterations of the vessel wall and an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and death. The emerging field of metabolomics can be utilized to detect a wide spectrum of intermediates and products of metabolism in body fluids that can be involved in the pathogenesis of AS. Research over the past decade has reinforced this idea by linking AS to circulating acylcarnitines, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, and amino acids, among other metabolite species. Some of these metabolites influence AS through traditional cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, smoking), while others seem to act independently through both known and unknown pathophysiological mechanisms. We propose the term 'arteriometabolomics' to indicate the research that applies metabolomics methods to study AS. The 'arteriometabolomics' approach has the potential to allow more personalized cardiovascular risk stratification, disease monitoring, and treatment selection. One of its major goals is to uncover the causal metabolic pathways of AS. Such pathways could represent valuable treatment targets in vascular ageing.

Uric Acid, Hypertensive Phenotypes, and Organ Damage: Data from the Pamela Study

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To examine published and unpublished data collected in the context of the Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni (PAMELA) study on the relationships between serum uric acid (SUA), office and out-of-office blood pressure (BP), and organ damage.

RECENT FINDINGS

SUA values were directly and significantly related to a large number of covariates that participate at cardiovascular risk determination, such as blood glucose, total serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, body mass index, and serum creatinine. Additional variables included echocardiographically-determined left ventricular mass index and BP values, the latter not just when measured in the office but also when evaluated at home or over the 24-h period. White-coat hypertension and masked hypertension were characterized, as sustained hypertension, by a significant increase in SUA levels, which were also directly related to different indices of 24-h BP variability. No substantial difference in SUA levels was found when data were analyzed according to the dipping or non-dipping nocturnal BP profile. Data collected in the frame of the PAMELA study document the presence of a close relationship between SUA levels and BP values independently on the hypertensive phenotype patterns of BP increase (office, 24 h, or both) and nighttime BP profile. They also document the increase in SUA as a potential factor favoring the occurrence of new hypertension and new left ventricular hypertrophy.

Prognostic value of hyperuricemia for patients with sepsis in the intensive care unit

This study evaluated the relationship between hyperuricemia at admission and the clinical prognosis of patients with sepsis. The data were obtained from the Intensive Care Medical Information Database III. The patients were divided into a normal serum uric acid group and a hyperuricemia group. The main outcome was 90-day mortality, and the secondary outcomes were hospital mortality, 30-day mortality, and acute kidney injury. Propensity score matching was used to balance the baseline characteristics of the groups. Our study retrospectively included 954 patients. Before and after propensity score matching, the incidence of AKI, the 30-day and 90-day mortality rates were significantly higher in the hyperuricemia group. Cox regression analysis showed that hyperuricemia was significantly associated with 90-day mortality (HR 1.648, 95% CI 1.215–2.234, p = 0.006), and hyperuricemia was significantly associated with the incidence of AKI (HR 1.773, 95% CI 1.107–2.841, p = 0.017). The Kaplan–Meier survival curve showed that the 90-day survival rate was significantly lower in the hyperuricemia group. In patients with sepsis in the intensive care unit, hyperuricemia was significantly associated with increased risk 90-day all-cause mortality and the incidence of AKI.

Association Between Serum Uric Acid Level and Carotid Atherosclerosis and Metabolic Syndrome in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND

Serum uric acid (SUA) is associated with many cardiovascular risk factors, such as metabolic syndrome (MetS) and subclinical atherosclerosis. However, the relationship of SUA with carotid atherosclerosis remains controversial. We aimed to investigate whether elevated SUA levels are associated with a high risk of carotid atherosclerosis and MetS in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was performed with a sample of 1,947 hospitalized patients with T2DM. Carotid intima-media thickness and carotid artery plaques were measured via Doppler ultrasound.

RESULTS

Uric acid levels were negatively associated with HbA1C, eGFR, and HDL-C (all P < 0.001) and positively associated with WBC, BMI, ACR, creatinine, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure (all P < 0.001). After adjusting for multiple potential confounders, the risks were substantially higher for MetS in the highest quartile of SUA levels (odds ratio: 2.91, 95% confidence interval: 1.54-5.51, P = 0.003 for trend) than in the lowest quartile of SUA levels. Furthermore, a significant increase was observed in the prevalence of overweight/obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia across the SUA quartiles independent of confounders. However, no significant association was found between SUA quartile with the presence of carotid atherosclerosis.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with T2DM, SUA levels were closely associated with MetS and its components but not with carotid atherosclerosis.

Predictive Value of Galectin-3 and Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity for Coronary Artery Calcification in Coronary Arteriography Patients

OBJECTIVES

To study the predictive value for coronary artery calcification (CAC) of plasma galectin-3 and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (BaPWV) in coronary arteriography (CAG) patients.

METHODS

Patients who received coronary arteriography (CAG) examination were recruited. The level of plasma galectin-3 was measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The arterial stiffness was analyzed by BaPWV and ankle-brachial index (ABI) which were measured using a volume-plethysmographic device. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the prognostic value of galectin-3 or BaPWV for coronary artery calcification (CAC).

RESULTS

The level of galectin-3 and BaPWV was significantly higher in CAC patients compared with that in control (p < 0.01). The level of plasma galectin-3 was positively correlated with BaPWV (r = -0.296, p < 0.01) and negatively correlated with ABI (r = -0.296, p < 0.01). ROC curve analysis revealed that galectin-3 ≥5.90 ng/ml was the most powerful predictor for CAC with sensitivity of 85.5% and specificity of 83.5%. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.916. When the level of BaPWV was more than 1909 m/s, the sensitivity and specificity were 61.8% and 69.6%, respectively, for predicting CAC. The AUC was 0.646.

CONCLUSIONS

The level of plasma galectin-3 increases significantly in CAC patients compared to control, and its level is related to BaPWV and ABI. Galectin-3 and BaPWV can be used to predict CAC, and the diagnosis value (sensitivity and specificity) of galectin-3 for CAC is better than that of BaPWV.

Metabolic Profiling and Metabolites Fingerprints in Human Hypertension: Discovery and Potential

Early detection of pathogenesis through biomarkers holds the key to controlling hypertension and preventing cardiovascular complications. Metabolomics profiling acts as a potent and high throughput tool offering new insights on disease pathogenesis and potential in the early diagnosis of clinical hypertension with a tremendous translational promise. This review summarizes the latest progress of metabolomics and metabolites fingerprints and mainly discusses the current trends in the application in clinical hypertension. We also discussed the associated mechanisms and pathways involved in hypertension's pathogenesis and explored related research challenges and future perspectives. The information will improve our understanding of the development of hypertension and inspire the clinical application of metabolomics in hypertension and its associated cardiovascular complications.

The geriatric nutritional risk index mediated the relationship between serum uric acid and hypertension: a mediation analysis

Background

The elevated serum uric acid (SUA) is associated with an increased risk of hypertension and nutritional status. Malnutrition might modify the association of SUA with hypertension. Therefore, the aims of this study were to examine the mediation effect of malnutrition on the association of SUA with the risk of hypertension in Chinese population.

Methods

The study was based on the China Health and Nutrition Survey in 2009. Participants aged ≥ 60 years with complete analyzed data were eligible. The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) was calculated by serum albumin (ALB) and BMI. Participants were identified as hypertension if systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg or receiving antihypertensive drug.

Results

There were 2371 participants included in the final analysis. In total, there was a significant mediation effect of the GNRI on the relationship between SUA level with hypertension (P < 0.001; OR: 1.096; and 95 % CI: 1.048–1.146). And the proportion mediated was 17.77 %. The results stratified by sex were consistent with those of total population. The significant mediation effects of the GNRI were found in the 60–69 years and 70–79 years groups (P = 0.002 and 0.032; OR: 1.099 and 1.075; and 95 % CI: 1.036–1.165 and 1.006–1.148, respectively) but not in the 80–99 years group (P = 0.303). The proportions mediated were16.22 % and 18.36 %, respectively.

Conclusions

The GNRI can mediate and account for approximately 17.77 % of the relationship between SUA level and the risk of hypertension. And this mediation effect was fully observed in both males and females, especially in the 60–79 years population.

Impact of Serum Uric Acid Concentration on the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Cohort Study Conducted in Northern China

BACKGROUND

The results of previous studies of the relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) have been inconsistent due to confounding factors caused by other known cardiovascular risk factors.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between SUA and incident CVD in middle-aged and elderly Chinese people, who were stratified according to body mass index (BMI).

METHODS

This study recruited 5,721 participants of 40-75 years of age, who were free of CVD at baseline and who underwent follow-up from 2008 to 2017. Participants were categorized in SUA quintiles. Cox proportional hazard and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were used to compare CVD incidence among the SUA groups. The correlations between SUA and CVD incidence in groups with differing BMI and waist circumference (WC) were also analyzed. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

During a mean follow-up period of 7.6 years, CVD incidence increased with SUA (log-rank test p<0. 001). Compared with the first quintile, the adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval (CI)) for the development of CVD were 1.08 (0.78-1.65), 1.17 (0.88-1.77), 1.47 (1.12-2.21), and 1.68 (1.28-2.44) for the second to fifth quintiles, respectively. This relationship was clearer in participants with normal BMI and WC. The adjusted hazard ratio for each 100 μmol/L increase in SUA was 1.13 (95% CI: 1.02-1.39) for CVD events.

CONCLUSIONS

High SUA is an independent risk factor for CVD in middle-aged and elderly northern Chinese people. This effect is maintained even after stratification according to measures of leanness/obesity.

Sitagliptin on carotid intima-media thickness in type 2 diabetes and hyperuricemia patients: a subgroup analysis of the PROLOGUE study

Background and Aims:

Studies have shown that dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DDP-4) inhibitors have anti-atherosclerotic effects. However, in the PROLOGUE study, sitagliptin failed to slow the progression of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) relative to conventional therapy. We conducted a post hoc analysis of the PROLOGUE study and compared the effects of sitagliptin and conventional therapy on changes in CIMT in subgroups with or without hyperuricemia.

Methods:

The PROLOGUE study was a randomized controlled trial of 442 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Patients were randomized to receive sitagliptin added therapy or conventional therapy. Based on the serum uric acid levels of all study populations in the PROLOGUE study, we divided them into hyperuricemia subgroup (n = 104) and non-hyperuricemia subgroup (n = 331). The primary outcome was changed in carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) parameters compared with baseline during the 24 months treatment period.

Results:

In the hyperuricemia subgroup, compared with the conventional therapy group, the changes in the mean internal carotid artery (ICA)-IMT and max ICA-IMT at 24 months were significantly lower in the sitagliptin group [−0.233 mm, 95% confidence interval (CI) (−0.419 to 0.046), p = 0.015 and −0.325 mm, 95% CI (−0.583 to −0.068), p = 0.014], although there was no significant difference in the common carotid artery CIMT.

Conclusion:

The results of our analysis indicated that sitagliptin attenuated the progression of CIMT than conventional therapy in T2DM and hyperuricemia patients.

Plasma uric acid is related to large arterial stiffness but not to other hemodynamic variables: a study in 606 normotensive and never-medicated hypertensive subjects

BACKGROUND

Elevated level of plasma uric acid (PUA) has been associated with cardiovascular disease, but whether uric acid is an independent risk factor or merely a marker remains controversial.

METHODS

We investigated in a cross-sectional setting the association of PUA with hemodynamics in 606 normotensive and never-medicated hypertensive subjects (295 men, 311 women, age range 19-73 years) without cardiovascular disease or gout. In all except 15 individuals, PUA was within the normal range. Supine hemodynamics were recorded using whole-body impedance cardiography and radial tonometric pulse wave analysis.

RESULTS

The mean concentrations of PUA in age, sex and body mass index adjusted quartiles were 234, 278, 314, and 373 µmol/l, respectively. The highest PUA quartile presented with higher aortic to popliteal pulse wave velocity (PWV) than the lowest quartile (8.7 vs. 8.2 m/s, p = 0.026) in analyses additionally adjusted for plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and mean aortic blood pressure. No differences in radial and aortic blood pressure, wave reflections, heart rate, cardiac output, and systemic vascular resistance were observed between the quartiles. In linear regression analysis, PUA was an independent explanatory factor for PWV (β = 0.168, p < 0.001, R2 of the model 0.591), but not for systolic or diastolic blood pressure. When the regression analysis was performed separately for men and women, PUA was an independent predictor of PWV in both sexes.

CONCLUSIONS

PUA concentration was independently and directly associated with large arterial stiffness in individuals without cardiovascular disease and PUA levels predominantly within the normal range. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01742702.

Influence of uric acid on the correlation between waist circumference and triglyceride glucose index: an analysis from CHARLS

Background

Waist circumference (WC) and uric acid (UA) are significantly related. Still, their temporal sequence and how the sequence works on future risk of triglyceride glucose (TyG) are unknown, especially in the Chinese population.

Methods

Cross-lagged panel model was used to analyze the reciprocal, longitudinal relationships among a set of interrelated variables. The mediation model was constructed to test the effect of the relationship between WC and UA on TyG.

Results

A total of 5727 subjects were enrolled in our study population, of which 53.5% were women, and the mean age was 59.0 (standard deviation, 8.62) years. After adjusting for traditional confounding factors, the results showed that a higher level of baseline WC was significantly associated with a higher level of follow-up UA (β = 0.003, P = 0.031) and follow-up TyG (β = 0.003, P < 0.001);. Simultaneously, there was no statistical association between the level of baseline UA and the level of follow-up WC (β = − 0.009, P = 0.951). The mediation effects of UA on WC-TyG were estimated to be 18.1% in adults, and 36.2% in women.

Conclusions

The current study demonstrated that higher baseline level of WC probably preceded UA’ level in general population. In addition, UA mediated the relationship of WC to TyG, especially in females. And the possible mechanism would require further clarification.

From classical to innovative clinical epidemiology: the 50 years' experience of the Brisighella Heart Study

INTRODUCTION

The Brisighella Heart Study (BHS) is a long-term, prospective, population-based longitudinal study on 2939 randomly selected residents of the town of Brisighella, Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

At the enrollment time in 1972 no participant had any cardiovascular disease, 1491 participants were men and 1448 women, and the age span was 14 to 84 years.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

The observational phase of the study contributed to the evidence of a strong pathophysiological association between hypercholesterolemia and hypertension. The interventional phase was one of the first examples of successful cardiovascular risk reduction obtained through a population-based educational intervention. Currently, the BHS staff is planning its 11th four-yearly population survey in 2022. Today, the study is moving from an epidemiological perspective to a translational approach, involving advanced biomolecular analyses, genetic tests, and functional vascular investigations.

CONCLUSIONS

This review aims to summarize the main findings of the first 50 years of BHS research and spot the latest developments and future perspectives of this remarkable Italian cardiovascular study.

The Prevalence, Distribution, and Extent of Subclinical Atherosclerosis and Its Relation With Serum Uric Acid in Hypertension Population

Background: Data are limited on the prevalence, distribution, and extent of subclinical atherosclerosis (SCA) in populations with primary hypertension and an in-depth evaluation is required to explore the impact of elevated serum uric acid (SUA) levels on the systemic extent of SCA. Methods: A total of 1,534 individuals with blood pressure-controlled primary hypertension registered from January 1, 2015 to May 31, 2018 were included. The systemic extent and risk factors of SCA in the carotid, coronary, thoracic, and renal territories were investigated by Doppler ultrasound and computed tomography. Results: SCA was present in 85.9% of patients. The proportion of focal, intermediate and generalized SCA was 17.9, 21.3, and 46.6%. Plaques were most common in the thoracic aorta (74%), followed by the coronary (55.3%), carotid (51.6%), and renal (45.8%) arteries, respectively. Participants were stratified into quartiles based on gender-specific SUA levels. Compared with patients in the first quartile, the Odds Ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval] for SCA in the second, third and fourth quartile were 1.647 (1.011-2.680), 3.013 (1.770-5.124), and 5.081 (3.203-10.496), respectively. Patients with elevated SUA levels at high 10-year Framingham risk had a higher likelihood of a more severe risk of SCA (95.8%). However, extensive SCA was also present in a substantial number of low 10-year-Framingham risk patients at the higher quartiles of SUA (53.8%). Conclusions: SCA was highly prevalent in the hypertension population and the thoracic aorta was the most frequently affected vascular site. Elevated SUA concentration was significantly associated with the prevalence and severity of SCA regardless of territories.

Asymptomatic hyperuricemia: is it really asymptomatic?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Hyperuricemia is highly prevalent, affecting approximately 38 million individuals in the United States. However, the significance of asymptomatic hyperuricemia - hyperuricemia in the absence of gout - continues to be debated.

RECENT FINDINGS

Asymptomatic hyperuricemia results in monosodium urate crystal deposition in tissues, which may promote chronic inflammation. Intracellularly, hyperuricemia inhibits the master regulator adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-associated protein kinase and may condition innate immune responses through durable epigenetic modifications. At the population level, asymptomatic hyperuricemia is associated with multiple comorbidities, including hypertension, chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease, and diabetes; limitations of these studies include that most are retrospective and some do not rigorously distinguish between asymptomatic hyperuricemia and gout. Treatment studies suggest that urate lowering may reduce the risk of incidence or progression of some of these comorbidities; unfortunately, many of these treatment studies are small or flawed, and not all study results are consistent.

SUMMARY

Accumulating evidence suggests that asymptomatic hyperuricemia contributes to the comorbidities with which it associates and that proper asymptomatic hyperuricemia treatment may reduce future risk. Additional prospective trials are needed to definitely establish causality and support decision-making as to whether, and which patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia would warrant urate-lowering treatment.

Hyperuricemia prevalence in healthy subjects and its relationship with cardiovascular target organ damage

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Heterogeneous results have been obtained in the relationship between Uric Acid (UA) and Target Organ Damage (TOD). In the present study we sought to assess the prevalence of hyperuricemia in healthy subjects as well as the role of UA in determining TOD. We evaluated vascular, cardiac and renal TODs in the whole population as well as sub-grouped by gender.

METHODS AND RESULTS

As many as 379 blood donors participated at the present analysis. TOD was evaluated as Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV), Left Ventricular Mass Index (LVMI) and carotid Intima-Media Thickness (IMT). Hyperuricemia was defined with the classic cut-off (>7.0 in men and >6.0 mg/dL in women) but also with a most recently defined one (5.6 mg/dL for both sex). Hyperuricemia was present in 6.3% of the whole population (7.3% males, 2.8% females) considering the classic cut-off, while, with the recently identified one, it was present in 28.2% of the whole population (37.3% males, 4.7% females). Despite all the evaluated TODs significantly correlated with UA, linear multivariate regression analysis showed that none of them, except for GFR, displayed UA as a significant covariate. Similar figures were found also when both correlation and linear regression analyses were repeated in the two genders separately.

CONCLUSIONS

Hyperuricemia is an important problem also in healthy subjects and its prevalence could further increase if lower cut-off will be used. In this specific population UA is significantly associated with renal impairment while this was not the case for cardiac and vascular damage.

Survey on uric acid in Chinese subjects with essential hypertension (SUCCESS): a nationwide cross-sectional study

Background

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is associated with hypertension and increased cardiovascular risk. Current data regarding the prevalence of HUA in Chinese hypertensive patients are lacking. Our study aims to explore the prevalence and determinants of HUA in Chinese hypertensive adults.

Methods

Treatment-naive hypertensive adults or those taking single antihypertensive agent were included in a nationwide cross-sectional study. Basic demographics, antihypertensive medications, serum uric acid (UA), and other parameters were documented.

Results

The overall prevalence rate of HUA was 38.7% among 33,785 valid cases, 35.1% for males (UA >420 µmol/L), and 45.2% for females (UA >360 µmol/L). A multiple logistic regression analysis, adjusted for demographic and clinical factors (model 1), revealed that female sex [odds ratio (OR), 95% CI, 1.43, 1.36–1.51], age of ≥65 years (1.12, 1.05–1.19), low evaluated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR; 2.06, 1.91–2.23, the lowest [Q1] vs. the highest quartile (Q4)], unmarried (1.58, 1.10–2.27), Western China residency (3.21, 3.33–3.91), longer hypertension duration (1.97, 1.78–2.12, Q4 vs. Q1) and aspirin use (1.21, 1.14–1.29) were associated with HUA. In a multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for clinical and metabolic parameters (model 2), female sex (OR, 95% CI, 1.34, 1.27–1.41), age of ≥65 years (1.09, 1.03–1.16), low eGFR (2.35, 2.19–2.52, Q1 vs. Q4), new–onset hypertension (2.01, 1.73–2.33), higher quartile of fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, and body mass index (BMI) were associated with higher risk of HUA (1.89, 1.76–2.03; 2.15, 1.99–2.31; 2.86, 2.67–3.06; 1.27, 1.27–1.36, respectively, Q4 vs. Q1). Losartan, valsartan, and nifedipine were associated with lower risk of HUA (OR, 95% CI, 0.77, 0.67–0.88, 0.68, 0.60–0.77; 0.87, 0.77–0.99, 0.79, 0.70–0.89 and 0.80, 0.70–0.91, 0.82, 0.72–0.92), respectively, in models 1 and 2.

Conclusions

The prevalence rate of HUA in Chinese hypertensive patients was 38.7%. Female sex, aging (≥65 years), and low eGFR were independent predictors of HUA. HUA was lower among the patients who were taking losartan, valsartan, and nifedipine. Western region residents, new-onset hypertension, longer hypertension duration, aspirin use, higher FBG, TG, LDL-C levels and BMI were potential risk factors for HUA.

Uric Acid and Cardiovascular Disease: An Update From Molecular Mechanism to Clinical Perspective

Uric acid (UA) is the end product of purine nucleotide metabolism in the human body. Hyperuricemia is an abnormally high level of UA in the blood and may result in arthritis and gout. The prevalence of hyperuricemia has been increasing globally. Epidemiological studies have shown that UA levels are positively correlated with cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, atrial fibrillation (AF), and heart failure (HF). Hyperuricemia promotes the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases by regulating molecular signals, such as inflammatory response, oxidative stress, insulin resistance/diabetes, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and endothelial dysfunction. Despite extensive research, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still unclear. Allopurinol, a xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitor, has been shown to improve cardiovascular outcomes in patients with HF, coronary heart disease (CHD), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Whether febuxostat, another XO inhibitor, can improve cardiovascular outcomes as well as allopurinol remains controversial. Furthermore, it is also not clear whether UA-lowering treatment (ULT) can benefit patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia. In this review, we focus on the latest cellular and molecular findings of cardiovascular disease associated with hyperuricemia and clinical data about the efficacy of ULT in patients with cardiovascular disease.

[Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia and Risk Of Cardiovascular and Renal Diseases]

Asymptomatic hyperuricemia (HU) is common in the population and significantly contributes to the general cardiovascular risk. Despite extensive study of this condition there is still no conclusive answers to questions about detection of asymptomatic HU and its effect on the risk for development and progression of cardiovascular and kidney diseases. This review summarizes key information about these issues, which has been accumulated by the present time.

Harnessing hyperuricemia to atherosclerosis and understanding its mechanistic dependence

Atherosclerosis is regarded as the disease of the arterial vasculature. The main characteristics of atherosclerosis are the abnormal accumulation of lipids, increased inflammatory cells, matrix deposits, and proliferation of smooth muscle cells. Diabetes mellitus, obesity, and hyperlipidemia are the most studied risk factors of atherosclerosis. One least studied risk factor is the uric acid (UA), a high UA in circulation is interlinked with many pathological processes. Several epidemiological studies suggest elevated UA levels as an essential biomarker in the forecast of several cardiovascular diseases. Available evidence claims that UA upholds the atherosclerosis process via disturbing lipid metabolism, reducing the nitric oxide synthesis in endothelial cells, promoting the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, and overwhelms inflammation. In endothelial dysfunction and coronary artery lesions, UA is considered as an independent predictor. The updated studies on the involvement of hyperuricemia in atherosclerosis prove that treatment with xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitors not just benefits the treatment of hyperuricemia but also reduces the burden of atherosclerosis to a greater extent. In this review, we highlight how the hyperuricemia affects vascular integrity, causes atherosclerosis, and the mechanism of action of XO inhibitors on atherosclerosis.