Variation of Serum Uric Acid with Renal Function, Fasting Blood Glucose and Blood Pressure in Northern Cameroonians with Essential Hypertension

Aim/Background: Hyperuricemia has been purported to be associated with renal and cardiovascular events as well metabolic syndrome. We aimed at investigating the relationship between serum uric acid levels and renal function markers in hypertensive patients. Methods: Individuals diagnosed with hypertension were consecutively recruited into this cross-sectional study over a period of four months commencing February 2015. Fasting whole blood samples and blood pressure measurements were collected, and data were analysed using the SPSS version 20.0 (IBM corporation, USA) software with statistical significance considered at P<0.05. Results: Among 100 participants, 20% had raised serum uric acid levels. While uric acid levels correlated with serum creatinine (r=0.37; P<0.001) and urea(r=0.31; P<0.01), and inversely varied with glomerular filtration rate(r= -0.24; P=0.02), no significant associations were observed between uric acid levels and blood pressure. Furthermore, the mean creatinine level was significantly higher in male participants with elevated uric acid levels compared to those with normal levels [1.67(0.74) mg/dl versus 1.44(0.80) mg/dl; P<0.001). Although male hypertensive participants demonstrated significantly higher mean uric acid level compared to females [7.37(2.51) vs. 6.21(1.57); P<0.01], the prevalence of raised SUA levels was significantly higher women compared to men (50.8% vs. 28.2%; P<0.001). Conclusion: Serum uric acid level is associated with kidney function capacity in hypertensive persons, especially in the male gender, and may represent an accessory treatment target in retarding the progression of renal complications.