Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia as an Independent Risk Factor for Myocardial Infarction in Adult Population: A Four-Year Follow-Up Study

Abdul Subhan Talpur; Abdul Fattah; Hewad Hewadmal; Farukhzad Hafizyar; Jawad Farooq; Tanveer Ahamad Shaik; Laila Tul Qadar; Syed Muhammad Hussain Zaidi; Sarmad Pirzada; Abdul Rasheed Bahar

doi:10.7759/cureus.34614

Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia as an Independent Risk Factor for Myocardial Infarction in Adult Population: A Four-Year Follow-Up Study

Cureus. 2023 Feb 3;15(2):e34614. doi: 10.7759/cureus.34614. eCollection 2023 Feb.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Medicine, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, PAK.
² Internal Medicine, Indus Medical College, Tando Muhammad Khan, PAK.
³ Cardiology, Sheikh Zayed Medical College/Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan, PAK.
⁴ Internal Medicine, Liaquatian Research Council, Hyderabad, PAK.
⁵ Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, USA.
⁶ Cardiovascular Medicine, Liaquatian Research Council, Hyderabad, PAK.
⁷ Internal Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Civil Hospital Karachi, Karachi, PAK.
⁸ Internal Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, PAK.
⁹ Internal Medicine, Trinity Health Livonia, Livonia, USA.

Abstract

Introduction A condition in which uric acid levels are elevated but there are no accompanying symptoms is known as asymptomatic hyperuricemia. As a result of the disparity in opinions and findings between the studies, the guidelines regarding whether or not asymptomatic hyperuricemia should be treated are unclear. Material and methods Between the months of January 2017 and June 2022, this research was carried out in the community in collaboration with the internal medicine unit and the public health unit of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences. After obtaining informed consent from each participant, the researchers enrolled 1,500 patients in the study who had uric acid levels that were greater than 7.0 mg/dL. These patients ranged in age from 40 to 70 years old and were of either gender. As a control group, 1,500 patients were recruited who did not have abnormally high levels of uric acid. Patients were monitored for a total of 48 months or until the occurrence of a major cardiovascular event (MACCE) or death from all causes, whichever occurred first. Death, cardiovascular mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke were the four categories that made up the primary outcome, also known as MACCEs. Results In the hyperuricemic group, the incidence of myocardial infarction that did not result in death was significantly higher than in the non-hyperuricemic group (1.6% vs. 0.7%; p-value, 0.04). However, the result was not significant for deaths from all causes, deaths from cardiovascular disease, or strokes that did not result in death. Conclusion Asymptomatic hyperuricemia is a potential threat to one's health that can lead to cardiovascular diseases and may go undiagnosed in some cases. It is important to remember that hyperuricemia can lead to delirious complications, so efforts should be made to perform routine monitoring and management of the condition.

Keywords: acute myocardial infarction in pakistan; cardiac risk factors and prevention; elevated uric acid levels; fatal myocardial infarction; non-fatal myocardial infarction.