title: Relationship between serum uric acid and electrocardiographic alterations in a large sample of general population: data from the Brisighella Heart Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serum uric acid (SUA) may contribute to the increased cardiovascular damage through direct injury to the endothelium and alteration of cardiovascular function.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association of SUA with the presence of the most recurrent electrographic alterations and with the length of the main ECG intervals in a large sample of general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this study, on the database of the Brisighella Heart Study, we evaluated the available data of 790 men and 849 women, excluding subjects affected by gout or taking antihyperuricemic agents, those taking drug increasing the QT interval and those using beta-blockers or non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers at the moment of the ECG registration. Multiple ascending stepwise regression analyses were carried out to determine the independent predictors of the predefined ECG alterations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of predefined ECG alterations was comparable between genders, with the exception of sinus bradicardia, left-anterior fascicular block, atrio-ventricular blocks and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), which appeared to be more frequent in men. The multivariate analysis revealed that SUA was associated to ischaemic alterations, LVH, sinus tachycardia and tachyarrhytmias. Age was associated to all evaluated ECG alterations beyond sinus tachycardia and LVH. Male sex was associated to sinus bradicardia, atrio-ventricular blocks, anterior-left fascicular block and LVH. Blood pressure was associated to different ECG alterations, but with clinically relevant OR with ischaemic alterations and LVH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SUA level is related the prevalence of both organic and rhythm ECG alterations in a wide sample of general population.
authors.affiliation: Medical and Surgery Sciences Department, University of Bologna, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, U.O. Medicina Interna Borghi, Via Albertoni, 15, 40138, Bologna, Italy, afgcicero@cardionet.it.
authors.forename: Arrigo F G
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Cicero
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosticci
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reggi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Derosa
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parini
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grandi
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Addato
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borghi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000453:epidemiology; D033461:Hyperuricemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014527:Uric Acid