Epidemiological association between uric acid concentration in plasma, lipoprotein(a), and the traditional lipid profile.

BACKGROUND

Elevated levels of uric acid in serum (SUA) or plasma (PUA) are increasingly related to cardiovascular disease. It is unclear whether they are independent risk factors or simply markers, reflecting association with other traditional risk factors.

METHODS

We retrospectively assessed results of a lipid profile, including total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides, total cholesterol to HDL-C ratio (TC/HDL-C), the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), and lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]), in a large cohort of unselected adult outpatients.

RESULTS

Hyperuricemic men displayed significantly increased values of triglycerides and AIP when compared with men with normal PUA levels. In hyperuricemic women, significant differences were observed for HDL-C, triglycerides, TC/HDL-C, and AIP compared with women with normal PUA levels. The percentage of patients with unfavorable values was statistically higher for triglycerides and AIP in hyperuricemic men; for HDL-C, triglycerides, TC/HDL-C, and AIP in hyperuricemic women. In multivariable linear regression analysis triglycerides, AIP, and TC/HDL-C were independently associated with PUA in women, whereas no significant association was observed in men.

CONCLUSION

PUA measurement might be advisable in patients to identify those at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) who might benefit from further triage and intervention.