High Serum Uric Acid Levels Are Associated with All-Cause and Cardiovascular, but Not Cancer, Mortality in Elderly Adults.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality risks associated with serum uric acid levels in elderly adults.


METHODS
Cohort study.


METHODS
The Annual Geriatric Health Examination Program database from 2006 to 2010.


METHODS
Community-dwelling Taipei citizens aged 65 and older (N = 77,541).


METHODS
Stratified according to sex, serum uric acid levels were analyzed in quartiles and as normal versus high categories. Mortality was determined by matching cohort identifications with national death files.


RESULTS
Men had significantly higher uric acid levels than women (P < .001), and mean levels increased with age (P < .001). Serum uric acid levels (normal vs high) were an independent risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in men and women, with the strongest association found for cardiovascular mortality. The association between serum uric acid levels and cardiovascular mortality was independent of other cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and glomerular filtration rate levels. When levels were analyzed as quartiles, men with levels in the second quartile had the lowest hazard ratios for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
High serum uric acid levels are associated with greater risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality but not cancer mortality in elderly adults. Further studies are warranted to investigate the prognostic implications and potential utility in the monitoring of therapy.
Department of Dermatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.|Institute of Public Health, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Public Health, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Dermatology, Heping Fuyou Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chen-Yi
CY
Wu
Institute of Public Health, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Public Health, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hsiao-Yun
HY
Hu
Institute of Public Health, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Public Health, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yiing-Jenq
YJ
Chou
Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.|Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Nicole
N
Huang
Institute of Public Health, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Public Health, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yi-Chang
YC
Chou
Department of Dermatology, Heping Fuyou Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.|National Yang Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Meng-Sui
MS
Lee
National Yang Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.|Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chung-Pin
CP
Li
D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality*; D002423:Cause of Death; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*
D014527:Uric Acid
all-cause mortality; cancer mortality; cardiovascular mortality; elderly; uric acid