ELEVATED SERUM URIC ACID LEVELS AS AN ANALYTICAL BIOMARKER FOR HYPERTENSION RISK AMONG YOUTH: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Hypertension is a growing public health concern, particularly among younger populations, as it significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Identifying early biomarkers for hypertension is crucial for timely intervention and prevention. Serum uric acid (SUA), traditionally associated with gout, has emerged as a potential predictor of hypertension and metabolic disturbances. Elevated SUA has been linked to increased adiposity, dyslipidemia, and vascular dysfunction. However, limited research has explored this relationship in healthy young adults, necessitating further investigation into its role as an early marker of hypertension risk. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between serum uric acid levels and blood pressure in healthy young adults to determine its potential utility as a predictive biomarker for hypertension. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 participants aged 18 to 50 years. Individuals with hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, or lipid-altering medication use were excluded. Serum and plasma samples were stored at -80°C for biochemical analysis. SUA concentration was measured using an enzymatic colorimetric method, and lipid profiles were assessed via enzymatic assays. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded using a calibrated automatic sphygmomanometer after a 10-minute resting period. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA version 12, with a significance threshold of P < 0.05. Results: Mean SUA levels were 4.6 ± 0.8 mg/dL in the control group and 7.22 ± 0.6 mg/dL in the hyperuricemia group. SUA demonstrated significant positive correlations with BMI (r = 0.38, P < 0.001), waist circumference (r = 0.42, P < 0.001), triglycerides (r = 0.34, P < 0.001), LDL cholesterol (r = 0.27, P = 0.002), systolic blood pressure (r = 0.21, P = 0.009), and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.29, P < 0.001). Conversely, SUA was inversely correlated with HDL cholesterol (r = -0.31, P < 0.001). After adjusting for age, sex, and BMI, the associations of SUA with BMI (P < 0.001), waist circumference (P < 0.001), triglycerides (P = 0.004), and HDL cholesterol (P = 0.002) remained statistically significant. Conclusion: Elevated serum uric acid levels are significantly associated with increased body adiposity, adverse lipid profiles, and higher blood pressure in young adults. These findings highlight SUA as a potential early biomarker for hypertension risk, warranting further longitudinal research to explore its clinical utility in preventive cardiology.