Hyperuricaemia and Other Markers of Kidney Impairment in Caribbean Patients with Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases

Hyperuricaemia is an independent risk factor for kidney functional decline, and its prevalence rises as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) staging progresses. The study investigated hyperuricaemia and other markers of kidney impairment in patients with chronic noncommunicable diseases in a developing economy. We retrospectively reviewed the data collected from a study conducted between January 2014 and December 2014 in which a total of 968 patients with diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and chronic kidney disease (CKD) participated. Each subject provided blood sample, which was then tested for glucose, serum uric acid, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, lipid profiles, liver enzymes, and albumin. Anthropometric measurements of each subject, including height, weight, waist circumference, age, gender, education level, occupation, and medical history with medication use, were also taken. The result of the study shows that, patients with raised serum uric acid (SUA) levels have higher mean age, systolic blood pressure (SBP), SUA, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), triglycerides, albumin, and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL) and lower mean value of estimated glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR) compared to patients with normal SUA levels, (P = 0.05). In addition, correlation studies between SUA, e-GFR, BUN, serum creatinine, body mass index, (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and albumin shows strong association between SUA and these parameters (p<.0001). About 223 (23.34%) of the CKD patients have raised uric acid levels and 745 (76.96%) have normal uric acid levels. Therefore, this study further documented the well-established association between hyperuricaemia and CKD. However, the measures already in place in lifestyle clinics must be maintained in order to prevent any increase in SUA levels in these patients.