Association of anti-hyperuricemia treatment and prevalent cardiovascular disease in hypertensive patients

INTRODUCTION: The current study aimed to evaluate the association of anti-hyperuricemia treatment and prevalent cardiovascular disease (CVD) in hypertensive patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Primary hypertensive patients with hyperuricemia were enrolled. All participants were separated into two groups: anti-hyperuricemia and control groups (without anti-hyperuricemia treatment). Comparisons of prevalent CVD including coronary heart disease, ischemic stroke and heart failure were made and the associations of anti-hyperuricemia treatment and prevalent CVD were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared to the anti-hyperuricemia group, patients in the control group had significantly higher serum C-reactive protein (10.6 ±2.8 vs. 7.4 ±1.2 mg/dl) and uric acid (UA) levels (438 ±33 vs. 379 ±64 µmol/l), and were more likely to receive β-blockers (34.2% vs. 31.1%) and calcium channel blockers (49.2% vs. 43.4%). The prevalence of ischemic stroke was higher in the control group (15.8% vs. 11.3%). Compared to other groups, blood pressure was significantly higher in patients in the 4(th) quartile serum UA level group. In the unadjusted model, anti-hyperuricemia treatment was significantly associated with a reduced odds ratio (OR) of composite CVD. After adjusting for potential covariates, OR of anti-hyperuricemia treatment for composite CVD was 0.89 with a 95% confidence interval (IC) of 0.82–0.98. Associations of anti-hyperuricemia treatment and ischemic stroke were also significant with OR = 0.93 and 95% CI: 0.88–0.99, while associations of anti-hyperuricemia with coronary heart disease and heart failure attenuated into insignificance after adjusting for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: In hypertensive patients with hyperuricemia, anti-hyperuricemia treatment was associated with lower odds of prevalent CVD.