Objective: To analyze the association of hyperuricemia with incidence of carotid plaque in general population and furthermore to explore the predictive value of serum uric acid in the early prevention of atherosclerotic disease.
Methods: The participants were selected from a part of Chinese Multi-provincial Cohort Study (CMCS). Two investigations on cardiovascular risk factors and two on carotid ultrasound detection were carried out in 2002 and 2007, respectively.
Results: (1) The standard prevalence of hyperuricemia on baseline was 5.4%, being 7.7% in male and 3.9% in female. (2) The standard incidence of carotid plaque was 45.3%, being 51.7% in male and 42.7% in female. It was shown that the incidence of plaque in the bulb of common carotid arteries was the highest. (3) After adjusting for age, smoking, high triglyceride, high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, overweight and obesity, hyperuricemia in female was an independent risk factor associated with 5-year incidence of formation plaque in the bulb of common carotid; the odds ratio (OR) was 3.56 (P = 0.02, 95%CI = 1.21 - 10.41).
Conclusion: Hyperuricemia in female was an independent risk factor associated with 5-year incidence of plaque formation in the bulb of common carotid, and hyperuricemia in male was not an independent factor associated with 5-year incidence plaque formation.