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Relationship Between Serum Uric Acid and Electrocardiographic Alterations in a Large Sample of General Population: Data From the Brisighella Heart Study

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Abstract

Introduction

Serum uric acid (SUA) may contribute to the increased cardiovascular damage through direct injury to the endothelium and alteration of cardiovascular function.

Aim

To evaluate the association of SUA with the presence of the most recurrent electrographic alterations and with the length of the main ECG intervals in a large sample of general population.

Methods

For this study, on the database of the Brisighella Heart Study, we evaluated the available data of 790 men and 849 women, excluding subjects affected by gout or taking antihyperuricemic agents, those taking drug increasing the QT interval and those using beta-blockers or non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers at the moment of the ECG registration. Multiple ascending stepwise regression analyses were carried out to determine the independent predictors of the predefined ECG alterations.

Results

The prevalence of predefined ECG alterations was comparable between genders, with the exception of sinus bradicardia, left-anterior fascicular block, atrio-ventricular blocks and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), which appeared to be more frequent in men. The multivariate analysis revealed that SUA was associated to ischaemic alterations, LVH, sinus tachycardia and tachyarrhytmias. Age was associated to all evaluated ECG alterations beyond sinus tachycardia and LVH. Male sex was associated to sinus bradicardia, atrio-ventricular blocks, anterior-left fascicular block and LVH. Blood pressure was associated to different ECG alterations, but with clinically relevant OR with ischaemic alterations and LVH.

Conclusion

SUA level is related the prevalence of both organic and rhythm ECG alterations in a wide sample of general population.

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Acknowledgments

No author has a specific conflict of interest in the publication of this paper.

We particularly acknowledge Marina Giovannini and Elisabetta Rizzoli for their support to the Brisighella Heart Study laboratory activity and Marcella Cagnati for her work on data managing. We also sincerely thank the Faenza public health district and all the General Practitioners of Brisighella for their continuous support to the study.

Funding sources

This work has been conducted with funding of the University of Bologna and with an unrestricted grant from the “Fondazione del Monte” (Bank foundation).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical and Surgery Sciences Department, University of Bologna, Sant’Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, U.O. Medicina Interna Borghi, Via Albertoni, 15, 40138, Bologna, Italy

    Arrigo F. G. Cicero, Martina Rosticci, Angelo Parini, Elisa Grandi, Sergio D’Addato & Claudio Borghi

  2. Board Graduation School of Cardiology, University of Modena, Modena, Italy

    Alessandra Reggi

  3. Internal Medicine and Therapeutics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Giuseppe Derosa

Authors
  1. Arrigo F. G. Cicero
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  2. Martina Rosticci
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  3. Alessandra Reggi
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  4. Giuseppe Derosa
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  5. Angelo Parini
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  6. Elisa Grandi
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  7. Sergio D’Addato
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  8. Claudio Borghi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Arrigo F. G. Cicero.

Additional information

The Brisighella Heart Study: the members are listed in Appendix.

Appendix: The Brisighella Study Group

Appendix: The Brisighella Study Group

Arrigo F.G. Cicero, Martina Rosticci, Cristina Baronio, Martino Morbini, Angelo Parini, Giulia Grossi, Elisa Grandi, Sergio D’Addato, Elena Ancarani, Silvia Palmesano, Marina Giovannini, Elisabetta Rizzoli, Marcella Cagnati, Giovanni Gardini, Riccardo Urso, Giuseppe Derosa, Stefano Bacchelli, Claudio Borghi.

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Cicero, A.F.G., Rosticci, M., Reggi, A. et al. Relationship Between Serum Uric Acid and Electrocardiographic Alterations in a Large Sample of General Population: Data From the Brisighella Heart Study. High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev 22, 129–134 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40292-014-0077-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40292-014-0077-9

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