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J-shaped curve for the association between serum uric acid levels and the prevalence of blood pressure abnormalities

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Abstract

Low and high serum uric acid levels are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, whether there is a similar association between serum uric acid levels and blood pressure abnormalities has not yet been elucidated. Data from 236,221 individuals (age, 56.0 ± 15.0 years; 107,146 men) who underwent routine health checkups were analyzed. Participants with a serum uric acid level ≤2.0 mg/dL were separated, and the remaining participants were divided into quartiles according to their serum uric acid levels. Among each group, the proportions of participants with high blood pressure (≥130/80 mmHg, and/or medication) and hypertension (≥140/90 mmHg, and/or medication), were calculated. The adjusted odds ratio of each group compared to the group with the lowest proportion of blood pressure abnormalities was calculated. The participants were divided into five groups according to their serum uric acid levels, ≤2.0, 2.1−4.0, 4.1−5.0, 5.1−6.0, and ≥6.1 mg/dL, and the prevalence of high blood pressure was 49.0, 44.6, 52.3, 58.6, and 65.3% and that of hypertension was 31.0, 27.4, 33.5, 38.7, and 43.8%, respectively. Compared to the second-lowest serum uric acid group (2.1–4.0 mg/dL), groups with higher serum uric acid levels (4.1−5.0, 5.1−6.0, and ≥6.1 mg/dL), as well as the group with the lowest serum uric acid level (≤2.0 mg/dL), showed significantly higher odds ratios for high blood pressure and hypertension. High and low serum uric acid levels were significantly associated with an increased prevalence of high blood pressure and followed a J-shaped curve.

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Acknowledgements

We appreciate the medical staff at Kagoshima Kouseiren Medical Health Care Center for their support in data collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine and Hypertension, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan

    Shin Kawasoe, Takuro Kubozono, Satoko Ojima, Takeko Kawabata & Mitsuru Ohishi

  2. Kagoshima Kouseiren Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan

    Hironori Miyahara & Koichi Tokushige

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  1. Shin Kawasoe
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  2. Takuro Kubozono
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  3. Satoko Ojima
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  7. Mitsuru Ohishi
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Correspondence to Takuro Kubozono.

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Kawasoe, S., Kubozono, T., Ojima, S. et al. J-shaped curve for the association between serum uric acid levels and the prevalence of blood pressure abnormalities. Hypertens Res 44, 1186–1193 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-021-00691-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-021-00691-5

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