Serum Uric Acid Levels and Renal Function in Hypertensive Patients Visiting a General Outpatient and Cardiology Units of a Government Hospital in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

Elevated serum uric acid has been linked to a decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in men and women. Hence, the objective of this paper was to evaluate the Serum Uric Acid Levels and Renal Function in Hypertensive Patients visiting a General outpatient and Cardiology Units of a Government Hospital in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria using appropriate standard methods. The mean serum uric acid (SUA) levels were significantly higher in the hypertensive group (0.26 ± 0.18 mmol/l) compared to the control group (0.14 ± 0.03 mmol/l, p < 0.001). Forty (20.0%) vs. 0 (0.0%) participants had elevated SUA in hypertensive and control groups respectively. The difference in the two groups was statistically significant (P-value <0.001). The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was significantly lower in the hypertensive group compared to the control group (0.74 ± 0.27 vs. 0.87 ± 0.20 mL/s/m² respectively, p = 0.001). Fifty-three (26.5%) of the hypertensives compared to 8 (8.0%) of the controls had impaired renal function. The difference in the two groups was statistically significant (P= 0.004). In the hypertensive group, SUA and eGFR showed a negative correlation (r = -0.106), but it was not statistically significant (p = 0.251). SUA and renal impairment were significantly higher in hypertensive patients than in controls. There was a negative correlation between SUA and renal function in the hypertensive group, but the relationship was not statistically significant.