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Hyperuricemia, hypouricemia linked with greater risk for cardiovascular events in patients with gout
Hyperuricemia and hypouricemia were linked with an increased risk for cardiovascular events among patients with gout, according to a recently published study that used electronic medical records data.
Margaret Noyes Essex, PharmD, FCCP, and colleagues performed a retrospective analysis using medical records from Humedica of adults with gout and at least one serum uric acid (SUA) level assessment after diagnosis. Researchers measured outcomes 12-months post-diagnosis and excluded patients who had any cardiovascular events before diagnosis. They grouped SUA levels as 0.01 to 4 mg/dL, 4.01 to 6 mg/dL, 6.01 to 8 mg/dL and 8.01 mg/dL or greater. For cardiovascular events, they measured acute myocardial infarction (AMI), congestive heart failure (CHF), coronary artery disease (CAD), a composite of AMI CHF and CAD, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and renal disease.
Researchers found a significantly higher incidence of AMI, CHD and renal disease in patients with an SUA level of 8.01 mg/dL or greater compared with the other three SUA levels. In addition, this SUA group was associated with an increased risk for hypertension (hazard ratio = 1.16) and renal disease (hazard ratio = 2.04). In the 0.01 to 4 mg/dL group, there was a significantly higher incidence of composite cardiovascular events compared with the other levels. Hyperlipidemia was diagnosed concurrently with gout in 24% of patients; whereas, hypertension was concurrently diagnosed in 28%. – by Will Offit
Disclosures: Essex reports she is an employee and shareholder of Pfizer, the study sponsor. Please see the full study for a list of all other relevant financial disclosures.