Serum uric acid concentration is associated with hypertensive retinopathy in hypertensive chinese adults

• Main Authors: Xuling Chen, Ying Meng, Jun Li, Hiacheng She, Liang Zhao, Jing Zhang, Yuan Peng, Kun Shang, Yadi Zhang, Xiaopeng Gu, Wenbin Yang, Yan Zhang, Jianping Li, Xianhui Qin, Binyan Wang, Xiping Xu, Fanfan Hou, Genfu Tang, Rongfeng Liao, Yong Huo, Liu Yang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2017-06-01
• Series: BMC Ophthalmology
• Subjects: Serum Uric Acid Concentration; Hypertensive Retinopathy; Hypertension; Hyperuricemia; Keith-Wagener-Barker system
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12886-017-0470-y

Abstract Background This cross sectional investigation included 12,966 subjects with hypertension, a cohort of the China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial (CSPPT), a randomized, multicenter clinical trial. This study aimed to explore the correlation between serum uric acid (SUA) concentration and hypertensive retinopathy in hypertensive adults. Methods Diagnosis of hypertensive retinopathy was determined by non-mydriatic fundus photography and classified with Keith-Wagener-Barker (KWB) system. The correlation of SUA levels with hypertensive retinopathy prevalence and severity was assessed by statistical analysis. Results 9848 (75.95%) subjects were diagnosed with hypertensive retinopathy with the following retinopathy grade distribution: grade 1: 58.80%, grade 2: 14.81%, and grade 3–4: 2.34%. SUA levels were significantly associated with hypertensive retinopathy prevalence. Patients with hypertensive retinopathy had higher SUA levels than those without hypertensive retinopathy. Patients in the highest uric acid quartile had an odds ratio for hypertensive retinopathy of 1.21 compared to patients in the lowest uric acid quartile (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.05–1.40, P = 0.008). When compared to the non-hyperuricemia group, those in the hyperuricemia group had an odds ratio for hypertensive retinopathy of 1.18(OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.05–1.33, P = 0.004). Every 1 mg/dl increase in uric acid concentration was significantly associated with a 6% higher odds of hypertensive retinopathy (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02–1.10, P = 0.002). Conclusions The prevalence of hypertensive retinopathy was high (75.95%) among hypertensives in our patients cohort. In addition, SUA concentration was significantly associated with hypertensive retinopathy.