title: Serum uric acid level is an independent risk factor for presence of calcium in coronary arteries: an observational case-controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A link between uric acid levels and cardiovascular diseases has been previously reported. Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) is a marker of atherosclerotic disease and a predictor of cardiovascular events. We sought to determine if serum uric acid level is an independent risk factor for the presence of calcium in coronary arteries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred and forty-two patients who were evaluated in the cardiology outpatient clinic for suspected coronary heart disease with a low-moderate risk for coronary artery disease were included in this observational case-controlled study. Serum uric acid levels were measured with colorimetric methods. CACS were performed using a 64-slice CT scanner. Patients were divided to 3 groups according to their CACS value (Group 1: CACS=0, Group 2: CACS 1-100, Group 3: CACS>100).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The demographical characteristics and laboratory findings of 3 groups were similar, except age, fasting glucose levels and serum uric acid levels. Serum uric acid levels were found to increase significantly with increasing CACS (p=0.001). Patients were grouped according to presence CAC (CACS=0 and CACS≥1) and in the multiple regression analysis, age (OR, 1.11, 95% CI, 1.07-1.16), smoking (OR, 3.83, 95% CI, 2.06-7.09), serum uric acid levels (OR, 1.26, 95% CI, 1.04-1.54) and average 10-year total risk of Framingham risk score (OR, 1.13, 95% CI, 1.04-1.09) appeared as independent factors predictive of presence of CAC (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum uric acid level is an independent risk factor for presence of coronary calcium. Moreover, increasing levels of serum uric acid are associated with increasing CACS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Fatih University, Ankara-Turkey. asliatar@gmail.com
authors.forename: Aslı Inci
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Atar
authors.forename: Omer Cağlar
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
authors.forename: Kayıhan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akın
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Selçoki
authors.forename: Okan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Er
authors.forename: Beyhan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eryonucu
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014527:Uric Acid