Evaluation of uric acid disorders and associated factors in essential hypertensive patients at Wolkite University specialized hospital, Southern Ethiopia.

Background: Essential hypertension is a condition characterized by a rise in blood pressure of undetermined cause, includes 90% of all hypertensive cases and is a highly important public health challenge with major modifiable cause of morbidity and mortality. Uric acids disorders in particular hyperuricemia are significant problems in essential hypertensive patients and can cause substantial morbidity and mortality. Determination of uric acid disorders may play a major role in the management and early aversion of complications in hypertensive patient. Therefore, this study aimed to determine uric acid disorders and associated factors among essential hypertensive adults in the outpatient department at Wolkite University specialized Hospital, Southern Ethiopia from November 1 to February 30, 2021.

Methods and Materials: An institional based cross sectional study was conducted on 270 essential hypertensive adults on follow-up in outpatient department from November 1 to February 30, 2021. Structured questionnaires through face to face interviews and participants' medical records were used to collect information on determinants related with uric acid disorders. The blood specimen was collected and level of serum uric acid, blood sugar and lipid profile was measured using standard principles and procedures with an ABX Pentra 400 automated chemistry analyzer. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were done to identify factors associated with hyperuricemia. The p-value was set at <0.05 with a 95% confidence interval of the adjusted odds ratio.

Results: A total of 270 adult essential hypertensive patients were participated in the study, among those 196(27.4%) of study participants were hyperuricemic with 95%CI (21.9, 33.3). Being alcoholic [(AOR: 15.68, 95% CI: (5.93, 21.41)], taking antihypertensive medication [(AOR: 11.56, 95% CI: (3.94, 23.80)], BMI > = 30 [(AOR: 4.89, 95% CI: (1.46, 25.5)] and being centrally obese [(AOR: 6.87, 95% CI: (2.53, 18.63)] were factors significantly associated with hyperuricemia.

Conclusion: In this study, the high burden of hyperuricemia (27.4%) was observed in essential hypertensive patients with follow-up in outpatient department. Taking alcohol and antihypertensive medication, being overweight and centrally obese were identified factors of uric acid disorders. The finding of this study should be taken into consideration to implement preventive interventions on identified predictors in hypertensive patients. Taking fruit and vegetable, and promoting physical exercise and determinations of serum uric acid level in adult essential hypertensive patients was recommended to minimize the emergence of hyperuricemia.

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.