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Journal of Clinical Medicine Research

Original Article

Volume 12, Number 7, July 2020, pages 431-435

Uric Acid and Prevalence of Hypertension in a General Population of Japanese: ISSA-CKD Study

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of premature death [1]. High blood pressure (BP) is one of the most important modifiable risk factors of cardiovascular disease and approximately a half of fatal cardiovascular events are estimated to be attributable to hypertension [2]. In Japan, average BP levels have declined during the past few decades (probably due to improvement in treatment and control of hypertension), while prevalence rates of hypertension have remained stable [3]. Effective prevention of hypertension and subsequent cardiovascular events will require strategies based on up-to-date knowledge on risk factors of hypertension.

A number of observational studies reported the association between serum uric acid and hypertension in a variety of populations, while no clear associations were reported from other observational or Mendelian randomization studies [4, 5]. As a result, uncertainty remains surrounding the causal relationship between serum uric acid and hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum uric acid and prevalence of hypertension in a general population of Japanese.

The Iki Epidemiological Study of Atherosclerosis and Chronic Kidney Disease (ISSA-CKD) is a population-based observational study of the residents of the Iki City, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Details of the ISSA-CKD study have been described previously [6, 7]. In brief, a total of 7,895 residents aged 30 years or older underwent annual health check-ups conducted by the local government of the Iki City between 2008 and 2017. After exclusion of 411 residents with missing information on age, sex, serum uric acid, BP or use of BP lowering medication, a total of 7,484 participants were included in the present analysis. This study was conducted in compliance with the Ethical Guidelines for Medical and Health Research Involving Human Subjects of Japan as well as with the Helsinki Declaration, and was approved by the Fukuoka University Clinical Research & Ethics Centre (No. 2017M010).

Information on smoking habits and alcohol intake was obtained using a standard questionnaire. Current smoking was defined as participants who had smoked 100 cigarettes or more, or who had smoked regularly for more than 6 months. Alcohol intake was classified into current daily drinking or not. Height and weight were measured with the participant wearing light clothes without shoes, and body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) was calculated. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 25 kg/m². BP was measured by trained staff in the right upper arm using mercury, automated, or aneroid sphygmomanometers with appropriately sized cuffs, after at least 5 min of rest in a sitting position, in accordance with standardized guidelines [8]. BP was measured twice and the mean of the two values was used in the present analysis. Casual blood and urine samples were collected. Serum uric acid was determined using the enzyme method and classified into four groups: group 1 (< 357 µmol/L (< 6 mg/dL)), group 2 (357 - 415 µmol/L (6 - 6.9 mg/dL)), group 3 (416 - 475 µmol/L (7 - 7.9 mg/dL)) and group 4 (≥ 476 µmol/L (≥ 8 mg/dL)). Plasma glucose concentration was determined using the enzyme method and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level (NGSP value) was determined using the high-performance liquid chromatography method. Presence of diabetes was defined as fasting glucose concentration ≥ 7.0 mmol/L, non-fasting glucose concentration ≥ 11.1 mmol/L, HbA1c ≥ 6.5%, or use of glucose lowering therapy. Serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglyceride levels were determined enzymatically. Dyslipidemia was defined by LDL cholesterol ≥ 3.62 mmol/L, HDL cholesterol < 1.03 mmol/L, triglycerides ≥ 1.69 mmol/L, or use of lipid lowering medications. Serum creatinine concentration was determined using an enzymatic method and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was estimated using the formula of the Japanese Society of Nephrology, as follows: eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m²) = 194 × serum creatinine (mg/dL)^-1.094 × age^-0.287 (× 0.739 if female) [9]. Urinary protein concentration was evaluated using dipsticks, and (1+) or higher score was regarded as the presence of proteinuria. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was defined as eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m² and/or presence of proteinuria.

Hypertension was defined as BP levels of ≥ 140/90 mm Hg or use of BP lowering medications.

Continuous variables were expressed as mean (standard deviation (SD)) and compared using analysis of variance. Categorial variables were expressed as number of participants (percentage) and compared using Chi-squared tests. Crude and multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated using logistic regression models. A two-tailed P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Analyses were carried out using the SAS version 9.4.

Table 1 shows the characteristics according to groups defined by serum uric acid levels. Participants with higher serum uric acid levels were more likely to be male, current smokers, current drinkers and obese, and were more likely to have dyslipidemia and CKD.

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Table 1. Baseline Characteristics According to Serum Uric Acid Levels

Hypertension was observed among 3,467 participants (prevalence 46.3%). The prevalence of hypertension increased with elevation of serum uric acid levels: 42.8% in group 1, 55.0% in group 2, 57.6% in group 3 and 59.8% in group 4 (P < 0.001 for trend) (Table 2). This association was significant even after adjustment for other risk factors including age, sex, current smoking, current alcohol intake, obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, eGFR and proteinuria: ORs (95% CI) were 1.50 (1.28 - 1.77) for group 2, 1.58 (1.25 - 1.99) for group 3 and 1.89 (1.36 - 2.64) for group 4 compared with the reference group of group 1 (P < 0 .001 for trend) (Table 2). Multivariable-adjusted OR (95% CI) per 1 SD (93 µmol/L (1.57 mg/dL)) increase in serum uric acid was 1.32 (1.22 - 1.43) (P < 0.001). There were comparable ORs for prevalent hypertension per 1 SD increase of serum uric acid between subgroups defined by gender (OR 1.26 (95% CI 1.14 - 1.40) for male and 1.39 (1.23 - 1.58) for female, P = 0.235 for interaction), current alcohol intake (OR 1.39 (95% CI 1.26 - 1.53) for no current alcohol intake and 1.19 (1.03 - 1.37) for current alcohol intake, P = 0.125 for interaction) or presence of CKD (OR 1.32 (95% CI 1.21 - 1.43) for no CKD and 1.16 (1.01 - 1.33) for CKD, P = 0.847 for interaction) (Table 3).

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Table 2. Association of Serum Uric Acid and Prevalence of Hypertension

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Table 3. Association of Serum Uric Acid and Prevalence of Hypertension in Subgroups

There was a positive association between serum uric acid and prevalence of hypertension in the present large-scale cross-sectional study of general Japanese. These associations remained significant after adjustment for the effects of confounding factors such as age, sex, current smoking, current alcohol intake, obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, eGFR and proteinuria. Comparable associations between serum uric acid and prevalence of hypertension were also observed between subgroups defined by gender, daily alcohol intake and presence of CKD.

Many observational studies reported the association between serum uric acid and hypertension [10-14]. However, current evidence is mainly derived from Western populations. In contrast, a few epidemiological studies reported the association between hyperuricemia and hypertension among Japanese. The Osaka Health Study reported increased risks of incident hypertension associated with elevation of serum uric acid levels among 6,356 Japanese men aged 35 - 60 years [15]. Nakanishi et al also reported similar associations between serum uric acid levels and incidence of hypertension among 2,310 Japanese male office workers aged 35 - 59 years [16]. Nagahama et al reported 1.57-fold higher risks of incident hypertension in participants with hyperuricemia (416 µmol/L (7 mg/dL) in men or ≥ 357 µmol/L (6 mg/dL) in women) among 4,489 Japanese men and women [17]. The present study of 7,484 general Japanese confirmed the findings from the previous studies and demonstrated that there was a linear association between serum uric acid and prevalence of hypertension from serum uric acid level of ≥ 357 µmol/L (6 mg/dL) in a general population of Japanese.

Emerging evidence suggests a pathogenic role of hyperuricemia in development of CKD [18]. Because CKD is a strong determinant of hypertension, the link between serum uric acid and hypertension might in part be mediated by CKD. However, most prior studies [10, 12-17] (including studies conducted in Japan [15-17]) did not control for the effects for eGFR or proteinuria in multivariable analyses. In this context, the Framingham study demonstrated significant effects of hyperuricemia on incidence of hypertension, independent of eGFR and proteinuria [11]. The present analysis confirmed the findings of the Framingham study and clearly demonstrated the association between serum uric acid and hypertension independent of eGFR and proteinuria. There were also no clear differences in associations between serum uric acid and prevalence of hypertension irrespective of presence of CKD. Based on the findings above, there seems to be limited role of CKD as a mediator of the link between hyperuricemia and hypertension.

The potential mechanisms underlying the relationship between serum uric and hypertension involve reduction of endothelial nitric oxide, activation of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) [19, 20], and renal microvascular diseases due to smooth muscle cell proliferation, inflammation and activation of local RAS [21].

Although this was a large-scale study of a general Japanese population, it has several limitations. First, because of the nature of a cross-sectional design, causal relationship was not clearly defined. Second, findings of this study may be affected by selection bias because participants who attended the health check-ups were more likely to be aware of healthy behaviors. Third, information on use of drugs for hyperuricemia and that on use of different types of BP lowering medications was not available in this study.

Serum uric acid was clearly associated with prevalence of hypertension in a general population of Japanese.

Acknowledgments

We appreciate residents and the local government of the Iki City, Nagasaki, Japan.

Financial Disclosure

This study was supported by research grants from the Iki City.

Conflict of Interest

HA received research grants from Daiichi Sankyo and Takeda, lecture fees from Bayer, Daiichi Sankyo, Fukuda Denshi, MSD, Takeda, Teijin and fees for consultancy from Kyowa Kirin outside of the submitted work. There is no other conflict of interest.

Informed Consent

Consent of participants was obtained using opt-out approach.

Author Contributions

HN and HA obtained data and funding, IM, SM, AS and HA conducted statistical analysis, IM and HA drafted the paper and all authors made critical review of the manuscript.

Data Availability

The authors declare that data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.

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