Abstract:
Objective: Uric acid, a mediator of high
blood pressure, is an inexpensive easyto-obtain indicator of cardiovascular risk
(stroke, myocardial infarction and renal
disease). This study was conducted to
determine the prevalence and risk factors
for hyperuricemia among patients with
hypertension in western Kenya.
Methods: This cross-sectional study
conducted at the Moi Teaching and
Referral Hospital in western Kenya,
enrolled randomly selected adults (≥
18 years) with hypertension, attending
medical outpatients’ clinic. Clinical (age,
gender, stroke history, Body Mass Index,
antihypertensive drugs and duration
of illness) and laboratory (fasting lipid
profi le, blood sugar, uric acid and serum
creatinine) data were collected. Data
were keyed into Microsoft excel database
and analyzed using STATA© version 13.
Descriptive statistics were summarized
using means, frequencies and proportions.
Risk factors for hyperuricemia were
analysed using two-sample t-tests, twosample Wilcoxon rank sum tests and
Pearson’s Chi Square tests.
Results: Of the 275 participants
enrolled, 182 (66%) were female,
mean age 54 (sd 12.5) years, mean
Body Mass Index 28.9 (sd 4.9) and
median duration of illness 6 months.
Overall prevalence of hyperuricemia
was 44%; with 37.6% and 47.3% in
males and females respectively.Factors
associated with hyperuricemia included
high Body Mass Index (p 0.036), low
Glomerular Filtration Rate (P<0.0001)
and dyslipidemia (p<0.0001).
Conclusion:There is a high prevalence
of hyperuricemia among patients with
hypertension in western Kenya. Risk
factors associated with hyperuricemia
include high Body Mass Index,
dyslipidemia and low glomerular fi ltration
rate. The use of losartan and calcium
channel blockers is recommended
in patients with hyperuricemia and subsequent longitudinal studies to be
done to determine utility of uric acid
monitoring in blood pressure control.
