Objective: To investigate the prevalence of hyperuricemia and its associated risk factors in treated and untreated hypertensive patients in Chinese rural area.
Methods: This cross-section study was performed in 5235 hypertensive patients aged 40 - 75 years old at Xinyang, Henan by using a multistage cluster sampling method. All patients underwent an investigation composed of a standardized questionnaire, physical and biochemical examination. Hyperuricemia was defined as serum uric acid levels > or = 420 micromol/L in men or > or = 360 micromol/L in women.
Results: The overall prevalence of hyperuricemia was 14.1%, and it was higher in men than in women (21.5% vs 10.2%, P < 0.01). With an increase of body mass index (BMI), the prevalence of hyperuricemia and serum uric acid level increased significantly in both sexes [BMI < 25, > or = 30: 14.4%, 30.4%, (328 +/- 83) micromol/L, (383 +/- 86) micromol/L in males; and 7.2%, 17.0%, (251 +/- 70) micromol/L, (293 +/- 75) micromol/L in females, respectively, all P < 0.01]. So did that with increase of age only in female patients (40 - 49 years vs > or = 70 years: 5.8% - 18.0%, respectively, P < 0.01). Antihypertensive treatment, lipid disorder, smoking and alcohol consumption also significantly increased the incidence of hyperuricemia and the serum uric acid level (all P < 0.01). However, no significant differences were found among patients with I, II, and III blood pressure levels (all P > 0.05). After adjustment for age and other conventional risk factors by using multiple logistic regression analysis, hyperuricemia was significantly associated with BMI, alcohol consumption and diuretics in males as well as BMI, lipid disorder, age, smoking, and antihypertensive treatment in females.
Conclusions: Hyperuricemia is relatively less common in rural hypertensive patients. The associated risk factors of hyperuricemia and elevated serum uric acids include sex, age, BMI, antihypertensive medicines, lipid disorder, smoking and alcohol consumption. The effect of these factors is different between sexes.