Association of serum uric acid level with aortic stiffness and arterial wave reflections in newly diagnosed, never-treated hypertension

Abstract

Background: Serum uric acid (UA) plays a key role in the development and progression of hypertension. We investigated the association of UA levels and indices of arterial function in a cohort of newly diagnosed, never-treated hypertensive subjects.

Methods: One thousand two hundred and twenty-five patients with a new diagnosis of mild to moderate arterial hypertension for which they had never received treatment were enrolled in the study (mean age 52.9 years, 728 men). Serum UA, carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (cfPWV), an index of aortic stiffness and augmentation index (AIx), a composite marker of wave reflections and arterial stiffness were measured.

Results: In univariable analysis, UA levels correlated with cfPWV (r = 0.23, P < 0.001) and AIx (r = -0.24, P < 0.001). In multiple linear regression analysis, an independent positive association of cfPWV with UA levels was observed after adjusting for confounders (standardized regression coefficient β = 0.169, P < 0.001, adjusted R² = 0.402), indicating an increase in aortic stiffness with higher values of UA. In contrast, an independent negative association of AIx with UA levels was observed after adjusting for confounders (standardized regression coefficient β = -0.064, P = 0.011, adjusted R² = 0.557), indicating a decrease in wave reflections with higher values of UA. In gender-specific analyses, UA positively correlated with cfPWV in both genders, whereas a negative correlation with AIx existed only in females.

Conclusions: Serum UA levels are independently associated with aortic stiffening and wave reflections in never-treated hypertensives. Future studies are warranted in order to explore its exact role on arterial function in the hypertensive setting.