Degree of blood pressure control and the risk of new-onset hyperuricemia in treated hypertensive patients

BACKGROUND: The relationship between blood pressure (BP) control and the risk of new-onset hyperuricemia remains uncertain. We aimed to examine the association between degree of time-averaged on-treatment BP control and new-onset hyperuricemia in general hypertensive patients. METHODS: A total of 10,617 hypertensive patients with normal uric acid (UA) concentrations (<357 µmol/L) at baseline were included from the UA Sub-study of the China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial (CSPPT). Participants were randomized to receive a double-blind daily treatment of enalapril 10 mg and folic acid 0.8 mg or enalapril 10 mg alone. BP measurements were taken every three months after randomization. The primary outcome was new-onset hyperuricemia, defined as a UA concentration ≥417 µmol/L in men or ≥357 µmol/L in women at the exit visit. RESULTS: Over a median of 4.4 years, 1,664 (15.7%) participants developed new-onset hyperuricemia. Overall, there was a significantly positive association between time-averaged on-treatment diastolic BP (DBP) and new-onset hyperuricemia (per 10 mmHg increment; OR 1.13; 95% CI: 1.02–1.26). Consistently, a significantly higher risk of new-onset hyperuricemia was found in participants with time-averaged on-treatment DBP ≥82.9 mmHg (median) (vs. <82.9 mmHg; 17.3% vs. 14.1%; OR 1.25; 95% CI: 1.10–1.44). Furthermore, the lowest new-onset hyperuricemia risk (12.1%) was found in those with both time-averaged on-treatment SBP (median: 138.3 mmHg) and DBP below the median (P-interaction=0.023). The results were similar for time-averaged DBP during the first 12- or 24-month treatment period, or in the analysis using propensity scores. Furthermore, a non-significant higher risk of new-onset hyperuricemia was observed in participants with time-averaged on-treatment SBP ≥120 mmHg (vs. <120 mmHg; OR 1.61; 95% CI: 0.88–2.97). CONCLUSIONS: A tight DBP control of <82.9 mmHg was associated with lower risk of new-onset hyperuricemia among hypertensive patients without hyperuricemia.