Uric Acid and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine the association of serum uric acid levels with incident cardiovascular disease and mortality in Korean adults without gout. METHODS: This large longitudinal cohort study included adults aged > 19 years who had serum uric acid levels measured at least once at the National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2015. Longitudinal data on person-level cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular mortality were linked to the National Health Insurance Service claims database and National Death Index. RESULTS: Among a total of 92,454 study participants with a median follow-up of 4.7 years, 7,670 (8.3%) composite events of cardiovascular disease or cardiovascular mortality were observed. Multivariable Cox proportional-hazards models revealed that each 1 mg/dL increment in uric acid level was associated with a 6% higher risk of composite outcomes. Compared with that for the uric acid level category of 4.0 to < 5.0 mg/dL, adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for uric acid level categories of 5.0 to < 6.0, 6.0 to < 7.0, and ≥ 7.0 mg/dL were 1.10 (1.04–1.18), 1.20 (1.11–1.30), and 1.36 (1.25–1.47), respectively. In the secondary analyses for cardiovascular disease or cardiovascular mortality examined separately, a higher uric acid level was similarly associated with a higher risk of each adverse outcome. These associations were generally consistent across clinically relevant subgroups. CONCLUSION: A graded association was noted between serum uric acid levels and cardiovascular risk, suggesting that higher uric acid levels may adversely affect cardiovascular health and survival in individuals without gout.