Elevated Uric Acid/Albumin Ratio as a Predictor of Carotid Plaque in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: A Chinese CSCD-TCM Plus Study

The present study explored the association between serum uric acid/albumin ratio (UAR) and carotid artery plaque (CAP) in cases (n = 12 481) with coronary heart disease (CHD). Participants were stratified by UAR quartiles. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association between the UAR and CAP. The relationship between the UAR and carotid plaques according to sex, age, blood pressure, and blood lipid groups was also assessed. Results showed that UAR was significantly associated with CAP (odds ratio [OR]: 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.05). The correlation between UAR and the presence of carotid plaque was strong in both females (OR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.06) and males (OR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.00-1.06). Patients aged ≥60 (OR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.34-1.90) had a higher risk for carotid plaque at the Q4 UAR level than those <60. Hypertensive patients showed higher carotid plaque risk at Q4 UAR (OR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.20-1.78) than normotensives. The correlation between UAR and the presence of carotid plaque was greater in dyslipidemic patients (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.02-1.10) than in normolipidemic patients (OR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.05). These results confirm a significant association between UAR and CAP, most pronounced in patients aged ≥60 or with hypertension/dyslipidemia.