International Journal of Medicine Research

Authors
NS Karthik, HS Darshan Kumar, SR Suresh

Abstract
The association of raised serum uric acid levels with various cardiovascular risk factors has often led to the debate of whether raised serum uric acid levels could be an independent risk factor in essential hypertension. Hence we carried out a study to examine the possibility of hyperuricemia causing hypertension. The study was carried out in Sri Adhichunchungiri institute of medical science the study period was of 18 months from April 2004 to September 2005 a total of 400 patients were studied of which 200 were cases and 200 controls. The patients were included if they satisfied the JNC VII criteria for hypertension. They were excluded if they were having any other condition known to cause raised serum uric acid levels & secondary hypertension. The study showed that serum uric acid levels were raised in patients with hypertension in comparison to normotensives. The Mean SUA levels between cases and controls were 6.104 ± 1.576 and 5.685 ± 1.338 respectively. t-value = 2.866, p - value =.004. SUA levels in the stages of hypertension showed a mean serum uric acid level in stage 1 hypertension of 5.0312 ±.77 and stage 2 hypertension 6.4421± 1.615 the t- value of 8.213 and p- value =.000 which was significant. SUA level in patients with hypertension 5 years was 5.163 ± 1.255 those with ≥ 5 years was 6.972 ± 1.326. t-value of 9.891, p-value =.000 which was also significant. Based on the study carried out we concluded that SUA can be used as an early biochemical marker to determine the severity and duration of hypertension.