Serum uric acid and the risk for hypertension and Type 2 diabetes in Japanese men: The Osaka Health Survey

Objective To investigate the association of serum uric acid level with the risk for hypertension and Type 2 diabetes. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Work site in Osaka, Japan. Participants A total of 6356 Japanese men, aged 35-60 years with systolic blood pressure < 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg, normal glucose intolerance, and no history of hypertension or diabetes at baseline. Main outcome measures stood pressure was measured by standard techniques, using 160/95 mmHg for diagnosis of hypertension. Type 2 diabetes was defined as a fasting plasma glucose level greater than or equal to 126 mg/dl or a 2 h post-loaded plasma glucose level greater than or equal to 200 mg/dl. Results During the 61 716 person-years follow-up period, we confirmed 639 cases of hypertension and 454 cases of Type 2 diabetes. Serum uric acid level was associated with an increased risk for hypertension but not for Type 2 diabetes. After adjustment for known risk factors, including daily alcohol consumption, the serum uric acid level was associated with an increased risk for hypertension; the relative risks for hypertension were 1.00 for quintile 1 of the serum uric acid level, 1.24 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.94-1.65] for quintile 2, 1.34 (CI, 1.03-1.76)for quintile 3, 1.76 (CI, 1.35-2.29) for quintile 4, and 2.01 (CI, 1.56-2.60) for quintile 5 (P for trend < 0.001). Even among both non-drinkers and lean subjects, serum uric acid level was associated with an increased risk for hypertension. Conclusions Serum uric acid level was associated with an increased risk for hypertension but not for Type 2 diabetes. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.