Relation of serum uric acid to cardiovascular disease.
This review summarizes recent published literature on the association between serum uric acid and cardiovascular disease, a relationship which is complex and not fully elucidated. Uric acid may be a marker for risk, a causative agent in cardiovascular disease, or both. Various biologic factors can influence serum uric acid levels, and serum uric acid level itself is closely related to conditions such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and impaired glucose metabolism, that contribute to cardiovascular disease pathophysiology. Serum uric acid levels have been found to be associated with adverse outcomes, including mortality, in the general population. In addition, serum uric acid is associated with increased risk for incident coronary heart disease, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. In the setting of established systolic heart failure, serum uric acid is positively associated with disease severity and mortality risk. Whether targeting treatment based on uric acid levels might affect clinical outcomes is still being studied.
Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan Health Systems, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. Electronic address: ahwu@med.umich.edu.
Audrey H
AH
Wu
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
James D
JD
Gladden
University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Mustafa
M
Ahmed
University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Ali
A
Ahmed
Heart Failure Unit, Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Attikon, Athens, Greece.
Gerasimos
G
Filippatos
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*
D014527:Uric Acid
Cardiovascular disease; Review; Uric acid