Impact of Hyperuricemia on Incident Hypertension When Hypertension Definition Changes From 140/90 to 130/80 mmHg in a Large Taiwanese Population Follow-Up Study

Abstract

A lower blood pressure threshold (≥130/80 mmHg) to define hypertension has been proposed in several hypertension guidelines. This study assessed the relationship between hyperuricemia and incident hypertension, examining serum uric acid (SUA) cut-offs using both traditional and new definitions in a large Taiwanese cohort. This observational cohort study enrolled 26 973 participants from the Taiwan Biobank (TWB), followed for a median of 4 years. Regarding traditional definition (140/90 mmHg), hyperuricemia (odds ratio [OR], 1.297), quartile 3 of SUA (OR, 1.211), quartile 4 of SUA (OR, 1.495), and high SUA (OR, 1.127) were significantly associated with incident hypertension in males, and hyperuricemia (OR, 1.198), quartile 4 of SUA (OR, 1.359), and high SUA (OR, 1.099) were significantly associated with incident hypertension in females. As for new definition (130/80 mmHg), hyperuricemia (OR, 1.376), quartile 3 of SUA (OR, 1.229), quartile 4 of SUA (OR, 1.554), and high SUA (OR, 1.139) were associated with incident hypertension in males, and hyperuricemia (OR, 1.249), quartile 3 of SUA (OR, 1.253), quartile 4 of SUA (OR, 1.429), and high SUA (OR, 1.096) were associated with incident hypertension in females. The interaction between hyperuricemia and sex on incident hypertension was significant for both traditional (140/90, p < 0.001) and new (130/80, p = 0.001) definitions. Hyperuricemia was significantly associated with incident hypertension under both traditional and new definitions. A significant interaction between hyperuricemia and sex was noted, although the differences were not so great.

Keywords: Taiwan Biobank; follow‐up; hypertension definition; hyperuricemia; incident hypertension.