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Arterial Stiffness Mediated the Association Between Serum Uric Acid and Blood Pressure
19 Pages Posted: 8 Sep 2018
More...Abstract
Background: Elevated serum uric acid concentration and arterial stiffness are both risk factors for hypertension. Serum uric acid is also associated with arterial stiffness. Whether serum uric acid affects blood pressure through arterial stiffening is yet unsolved, with very limited observational studies.
Methods: Participants were selected from Kailuan Study (2008-2016), who were free of cardiovascular diseases and anti-hypertensive drugs. Arterial stiffness was measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity. Parameters of blood pressure included systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean artery pressure, and pulse pressure. Study Group I consisted of participants with baseline uric acid, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity at next follow-up visit (~2 years), and blood pressure at a third follow-up (~4 years); Study Group II consisted of participants with complete data in a single visit. Correlations were tested by multivariate linear regressions. Role of arterial stiffness in connecting uric acid to blood pressure was tested by mediation analyses.
Findings: In Study Group I, correlations were found between serum uric acid and arterial stiffness (R2=0.299, P<0.001), serum uric acid and blood pressure (R2=0.191, P<0.001), and arterial stiffness and blood pressure (R2=0.288, P<0.001). In mediation analyses, the total, direct, and indirect effect of serum uric acid on systolic blood pressure were 0.0118 (P<0.001), 0.0103 (P<0.001), and 0.0015 (P<0.001), respectively. The percentage of mediation effect was 12.8%. Similar results persisted with diverse BP outcomes, and in Study Group II.
Interpretation: Arterial stiffness mediated the association between serum uric acid and blood pressure.
Funding Statement: Authors report no funding.
Conflict of Interest: Authors report no conflict of interest.
Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by Ethics Committees of Kailuan General Hospital, in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation