Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The relationship between uric acid (UA) level and blood pressure (BP) is not clear, although most studies suggest BP reduction in patients treated with UA level lowering agents. AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between UA level and BP among patients hospitalized in a department of internal medicine. We also intended to investigate the relation between the allopurinol dose prescribed and BP. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed hospital records of 561 patients (mean age: 65.46 ±17.46 years) hospitalized in a department of internal medicine, in whom UA level was determined on admission. RESULTS: We did not find a significant correlation between UA level and BP values in the whole group, nor in patients not taking any BP-lowering or any UA-lowering drug. Multivariable analysis showed that allopurinol dose was not independently related to BP. Age (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.03-1.06 per 1 year), diabetes (OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.14-3.16), stage 2 (OR = 4.96, 95% CI: 2.15-11.46) and stage 3 obesity (OR = 13.66, 95% CI: 5.90-31.60), both vs. patients without stage 2/3 obesity, but not UA level, were independently related to the diagnosis of hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Our study does not confirm an independent relationship between UA level and BP nor between UA lowering and BP in a population of hospitalized patients.