Correlation between serum uric acid levels and target organ damage in apparently healthy subjects with newly diagnosed Grade I/Grade II essential hypertension: An observational cross-sectional study

A BSTRACT Background: Hypertension is a global health issue linked to target organ damage (TOD) in the heart, kidneys, and eyes. Serum uric acid (SUA) has been proposed as a potential marker for assessing TOD in hypertensive patients. This study explored the relationship between SUA levels and TOD in individuals newly diagnosed with Grade I or II essential hypertension. Methods: Conducted at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, the study included 80 patients—40 each with Grade I and II hypertension. SUA levels were measured and correlated with: • Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) via 2D echocardiography, • Microalbuminuria via urine albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR), • Hypertensive retinopathy via fundoscopy. Statistical tools included Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman’s correlation, regression analysis, and ROC curve analysis. Results: SUA levels were significantly elevated in patients with advanced LVDD ( P < 0.001). A SUA threshold of ≥ 6.6 mg/dL predicted LVDD with 63% sensitivity and 91% specificity. SUA also showed a strong positive correlation with microalbuminuria ( r = 0.7, P < 0.001); levels ≥ 6.9 mg/dL predicted microalbuminuria (67% sensitivity, 89% specificity). A significant association was found between SUA and the severity of hypertensive retinopathy ( P < 0.001). Regression analysis confirmed SUA as an independent predictor of TOD, regardless of age, sex, and BMI. Conclusion: SUA is strongly associated with TOD in early-stage hypertension and may serve as a cost-effective biomarker for early detection of hypertensive complications. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.