Elevated uric acid levels raise the risk for heart complications, according to the findings
A recent study conducted by researchers from Halle University Medicine has found a connection between urine acid levels within the normal range and increased vascular stiffness, a precursor and risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The study, based on an analysis of over 70,000 data sets from the German National Cohort (NAKO) health study, suggests that this association is particularly pronounced in women.
The researchers examined the urine acid concentration in blood serum in the NAKO health study participants and found a stronger correlation between urine acid and vascular stiffness in women. This finding raises questions about the current clinically accepted "normal" uric acid limits and underscores the importance of considering uric acid in women’s cardiovascular health management.
While uric acid historically provided evolutionary advantages, modern lifestyle changes have rendered higher uric acid levels — even within normal bounds — risky because they contribute to vascular damage and associated conditions like hypertension and organ damage. This aligns with broader findings linking elevated serum uric acid with cardiovascular disease broadly, viewed in recent scientific literature as a chronic inflammatory risk factor.
The study's findings are significant because they identify uric acid within the normal range as an underestimated, sex-specific risk factor for cardiovascular disease. While other cardiovascular risk factors in women are also well-documented (e.g., diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy), this Halle/NAKO study is notable for highlighting uric acid.
The study results indicate a positive correlation between urine acid and vascular stiffness within the normal range. This correlation was more pronounced in women, suggesting sex-specific vulnerability. The scientists recommend preventive therapy with urine acid-lowering medications at 'normal' levels, particularly for women with other cardiovascular risk factors.
The current urine acid limits for women are between 140-360 μmol/l and for men between 180-420 μmol/l, according to the study. However, the study suggests that these limits may need to be reevaluated in light of the findings.
In summary, the Halle University Medicine and NAKO health study provide strong evidence that normal-range uric acid levels can increase cardiovascular disease risk, especially in women. This finding underscores the need to revisit uric acid thresholds in clinical practice.
[1] University Medical Centre Halle, Germany. (2022). Uric acid within the normal range is associated with increased vascular stiffness and cardiovascular disease risk, especially in women: Results from the NAKO study. European Heart Journal. [2] World Health Organization. (2020). Non-communicable diseases and mental health: Global status report 2020. [3] Yoon, S. K., & Park, Y. J. (2018). Uric acid as a chronic inflammatory risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 71(12), 1336-1347.
- The study, published in the European Heart Journal, found that uric acid within the normal range is associated with increased vascular stiffness and cardiovascular disease risk, particularly in women, as part of the NAKO health study conducted by University Medical Centre Halle, Germany.
- The study's findings suggest that considering uric acid levels is crucial for managing women's cardiovascular health, as it may act as an underestimated, sex-specific risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
- This research aligns with recent scientific literature, which views elevated serum uric acid as a chronic inflammatory risk factor for cardiovascular disease, as suggested by Yoon and Park in their study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
