Prevalence and factors associated with hyperuricaemia in newly diagnosed and untreated hypertensives in a sub-Saharan African setting

Background: Few studies have evaluated the link between hyperuricaemia and cardiovascular disease in sub-Saharan Africa.

Aims: To assess the prevalence of and factors associated with hyperuricaemia among newly diagnosed treatment-naïve hypertensive patients in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: We performed a community-based cross-sectional study from January to December 2012 in Douala, Cameroon (Central Africa). We enrolled newly diagnosed treatment-naïve hypertensive patients, and excluded those with gout or a history of gout. Serum uric acid concentrations were measured by enzymatic colourimetric methods, and hyperuricaemia was defined as a serum uric acid concentration>70IU/mL. Fasting blood sugar concentrations, serum creatinine concentrations and lipid profiles were also measured. Logistic regression was used to study factors associated with hyperuricaemia.

Results: We included 839 newly diagnosed treatment-naïve hypertensive patients (427 women and 412 men; mean age 51±11 years; mean serum uric acid concentration 60.5±16.5IU/L). The prevalence of hyperuricaemia was 31.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 28.7-34.9) and did not differ by sex (132 women vs. 135 men; P=0.56). Multivariable logistic regression identified age>55 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.65, 95% CI 1.12-2.29), family history of hypertension (AOR 1.65, 95% CI 1.01-2.67), waist circumference>102cm in men or>88cm in women (AOR 1.60, 95% CI 1.12-2.29), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol>1g/L (AOR 1.33, 95% CI 0.97-1.82) and triglycerides>1.5g/L (AOR 1.63, 95% CI 1.01-2.65) as independently associated with hyperuricaemia.

Conclusion: Hyperuricaemia is common among newly diagnosed treatment-naïve hypertensive patients in sub-Saharan Africa and is associated with some components of the metabolic syndrome.