SERUM URIC ACID LEVELS IN ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH THE SEVERITY AND DURATION OF DISEASE

Hypertension is a leading cause of cardiovascular and renal morbidity and mortality. Emerging evidence suggests that
serum uric acid (SUA) may contribute to the pathogenesis of essential hypertension through endothelial dysfunction and
oxidative stress, yet population-based data from North India, particularly Punjab, remain limited. To measure serum uric
acid levels in patients with essential hypertension and to examine their association with the severity and duration of
disease. This hospital-based, cross-sectional, observational study enrolled 100 patients older than 18 years with essential
hypertension diagnosed according to JNC VII criteria at the Department of Medicine, Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. Patients
were categorised by severity (Stage I and Stage II) and by disease duration (fewer than 5 years and more than 5 years).
Those with secondary hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, renal disease, or conditions and drugs known to affect SUA
were excluded. Serum uric acid was measured by the uricase–PAP end-point method. The mean age was
50.88 ± 13.65 years and 72% of participants were male. The mean SUA was 6.04 ± 1.55 mg/dl (range 3.20–9.50 mg/dl),
and hyperuricaemia (SUA > 6.8 mg/dl) was present in 35%. SUA increased significantly with advancing age (p < 0.001).
Patients with Stage II hypertension had significantly higher SUA than those with Stage I disease (6.45 ± 1.65 vs
5.21 ± 0.86 mg/dl; p < 0.001), and patients with a disease duration exceeding 5 years had higher levels than those with
shorter-duration disease (6.96 ± 1.21 vs 5.22 ± 1.36 mg/dl; p < 0.001). No significant sex difference was observed. Serum
uric acid is significantly associated with both the severity and the duration of essential hypertension. Routine SUA
estimation may serve as a useful adjunct for cardiovascular and renal risk stratification in hypertensive patients.