Hyperuricemia and Its Correlation with Target Organ Damage and Electrocardiographic Changes in Newly Diagnosed Adult Nigerian Hypertensive Patients

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of Hyperuricemia and evaluate its correlation with target organ damage and electrocardiographic changes in newly diagnosed adult Nigerian hypertensive patients. It was a cross sectional study done at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. 150 untreated newly diagnosed hypertensive patients 18 years and above and 115 age and sex-matched normotensive individuals were recruited into the study. Data obtained was analyzed using Epi-Info version 6.04 and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 14 computer software packages. The prevalence of Hyperuricemia was 36.7% and 17.4% in hypertensive patients and normotensive controls respectively. Mean serum UA in hypertensive patients and normotensive controls was 0.4±0.1mmol/l and 0.3±0.1mmol/l respectively (p<0.0001). There was an association between Hyperuricemia and left ventricular hypertrophy (x 2 =23.97, p<0.0001). The study showed that Hyperuricemia is prevalent in adult Nigerians with newly diagnosed hypertension. Hyperuricemia was associated with left ventricular hypertrophy which is common target organ damage and confers an increased risk of cardiovascular events in systemic hypertension.