Combined effect of serum gamma-glutamyltransferase and uric acid on Framingham risk score.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and uric acid (UA) are novel coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors. In the present study we investigated the combined effects of GGT and UA on Framingham risk score (FRS) in a Korean population.

METHODS

A total of 10,096 subjects (5,124 females and 4,972 males) were enrolled in this study. A 10-year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk was calculated using the FRS modified by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III). Levels of circulating GGT and UA were measured using validated assays.

RESULTS

The 10-year CHD risk gradually augmented with increase in the circulating levels of GGT and UA. For the highest quartile of GGT and UA, odds ratio (OR) of intermediate-risk and beyond for CHD (10-year risk ≥10%) compared with the lowest quartile was 3.44 (95% CI: 2.60-4.55, p <0.001) and 1.97 (95% CI: 1.56-4.55, p <0.001) after adjusting for confounders, respectively. OR of intermediate-risk and beyond for CHD in both 3(rd) and 4(th) quartile of GGT and UA was 9.9 (95% CI: 5.2-18.6) compared with the first quartile of those.

CONCLUSIONS

GGT and UA levels are well associated with the 10-year CHD risk estimated using NCEP ATP III in Koreans after adjusting for confounders and combination of GGT and UA levels can have a strong synergy in predicting the development of CHD.