High prevalence of hyperuricaemia and its impact on non-valvular atrial fibrillation: the cross-sectional Guangzhou (China) Heart Study

• Published in: BMJ open Vol. 9; no. 5; p. e028007
• Main Authors: Lin, Wei-dong, Deng, Hai, Guo, Pi, Liu, Fang-zhou, Chen, Ru-yin, Fang, Xian-hong, Zhan, Xian-zhang, Liao, Hong-tao, Huang, Wen-xiang, Liu, Yang, Wang, Feng, Zheng, Mu-rui, Liu, Hua-zhang, Huang, Jun, Wei, Wei, Xue, Yu-mei, Wu, Shu-lin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 01.05.2019; BMJ Publishing Group
• Subjects: Age Distribution; Atrial Fibrillation - epidemiology; Cardiac arrhythmia; Cardiovascular disease; China - epidemiology; Cluster Analysis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Epidemiology; Female; Health risk assessment; Humans; Hyperuricemia - epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Rural Health - statistics & numerical data; Sex Distribution; Urban Health - statistics & numerical data; Womens health; China; epidemiology; cardiac epidemiology; cardiology
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028007

ObjectivesThere are country and regional variations in the prevalence of hyperuricaemia (HUA). The prevalence of HUA and non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) in southern China is unknown.DesignA cross-sectional study.Setting and participantsA total of 11 488 permanent residents aged 35 or older from urban and rural areas of Guangzhou, China were enrolled. A questionnaire was used to compile each participant’s demographic information and relevant epidemiological factors for HUA and NVAF. All participants were assessed using a panel of blood tests and single-lead 24-hour ECG.Main outcome measuresHUA was defined as serum uric acid level >420 μmol/L in men and >360 μmol/L in women. NVAF was diagnosed as per guidelines.ResultsThe prevalence of HUA was 39.6% (44.8% in men and 36.7% in women), and 144 residents (1.25%) had NVAF. Prevalence of HUA increased with age in women but remained stably high in men. After adjusting for potential confounders, age, living in urban areas, alcohol consumption, central obesity, elevated fasting plasma glucose level, elevated blood pressure, lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level and elevated triglycerides level were associated with increased risk of HUA. Residents with HUA were at higher risk for NVAF. Serum uric acid level had a modest predictive value for NVAF in women but not men.ConclusionsHUA was highly prevalent among citizens of southern China and was a predictor of NVAF among women.