Association Between Serum Levels of Uric Acid and Blood Pressure Tracking in Childhood.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies suggest that high levels of serum uric acid of very early life are a result of the in-utero environment and may lead to elevated blood pressure (BP) in adulthood. However, serum uric acid levels can change throughout life. We investigated the effect of serum uric acid levels in childhood on the BP tracking and analysed BP according to changes in serum uric acid levels in early life.


METHODS
A total of 449 children from the Ewha Birth and Growth Cohort study underwent at least 2 follow-up examinations. Data were collected across 3 check-up cycles. Serum uric acid levels, BP, and anthropometric characteristics were assessed at 3, 5, and 7 years of age.


RESULTS
Children with a serum uric acid level higher than the median values had significantly increased systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP at 3 years of age. Baseline serum uric acid levels measured at 3 years of age, significantly affected subsequent BP in the sex and body mass index adjusted longitudinal data analysis (P < 0.05). Considering the changing pattern of serum uric acid over time, subjects with high uric acid levels at both 3 and 5 years of age had the highest SBP at 7 years of age.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest the importance of maintaining an adequate level of serum uric acids from the early life. Appropriate monitoring and intervention of uric acid levels in a high-risk group can reduce the risk of a future increased BP.
Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
Bohyun
B
Park
Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
Hye Ah
HA
Lee
Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
Sung Hee
SH
Lee
Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
Bo Mi
BM
Park
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
Eun Ae
EA
Park
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
Hae Soon
HS
Kim
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
Su Jin
SJ
Cho
Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
Hyesook
H
Park
D000367:Age Factors; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D033461:Hyperuricemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D014527:Uric Acid
blood pressure; early childhood; hypertension; intervention; longitudinal blood pressure; monitoring; uric acid.