ASSOCIATION OF SERUM URIC ACID LEVELS WITH BLOOD PRESSURE ACROSS VARIOUS AGE GROUPS

Abstract

To assess the prevalence of hyperuricemia and its relationship with blood pressure across different age groups in patients attending outpatient clinics for routine health check-ups at a tertiary care hospital Department of Internal Medicine, Fazaia Ruth Pfau Medical College, PAF Faisal Base, Karachi, from November 18, 2024, to February 20, 2025.
Following ethical approval, 200 participants were enrolled, comprising 100 newly diagnosed hypertensive patients (Group A) and 100 age-matched normotensive controls (Group B). Serum uric acid levels were measured, and hyperuricemia was defined according to standard clinical criteria. The primary outcome was the prevalence of hyperuricemia in hypertensive versus normotensive individuals. Secondary outcomes included evaluation of serum uric acid levels across different age groups. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square tests and mean comparisons, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Hyperuricemia was observed in 64% of hypertensive patients compared to 21% of controls (p < 0.001). Mean serum uric acid levels were 5.58 ± 1.95 mg/dL in adolescents and 8.6 ± 1.76 mg/dL in geriatric patients, with no significant correlation between age and uric acid levels.
Hyperuricemia is strongly associated with elevated blood pressure regardless of age, suggesting it may serve as a modifiable risk factor in hypertension management.