Association between the uric acid-to-HDL-cholesterol ratio (UHR) and the risk of cardiovascular disease and dyslipidemia: a population-based study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The uric acid-to-HDL-cholesterol ratio (UHR), a novel marker of metabolism and inflammation, has been investigated in various diseases. However, its potential associations with the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and dyslipidemia remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the relationships between the UHR and the incidence of CVD and dyslipidemia. The primary objective was to evaluate the role of the UHR in predicting CVD and dyslipidemia, whereas the secondary objective was to analyze the predictive effects of the UHR in different subgroups. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the 2001-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which included 6,370 adults aged 18-80 years. Weighted binary logistic regression and subgroup analyses were performed to evaluate the independent associations between the UHR and the risk of various cardiovascular conditions, including overall CVD, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, angina, coronary heart disease, and dyslipidemia. To investigate potential nonlinear relationships between the UHR and these outcomes, restricted cubic spline modeling was applied to further elucidate the associations. RESULTS: Among the 6,370 participants included in the study, 559 were diagnosed with CVD. Elevated UHR values were strongly associated with a greater incidence of CVD and its subtypes, including congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, angina, and coronary heart disease (all P < 0.001). After accounting for weighted factors, participants in the higher UHR quartiles presented progressively higher rates of CVD: Quartile 1 (4.7%), Quartile 2 (6.3%), Quartile 3 (7.4%), and Quartile 4 (11%). A nonlinear relationship between the UHR and the risk of developing CVD was identified through restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis. Among the subgroup of 4,117 participants with dyslipidemia, multivariable linear regression analysis demonstrated a significant positive association between the UHR and dyslipidemia (OR 17.38, 95% CI 16.24-18.60). This association remained robust even after adjusting for covariates (OR 11.65, 95% CI 8.995-15.17). RCS analysis further confirmed the nonlinear nature of this relationship. Subgroup analysis revealed no significant interaction between the UHR and overall CVD or CVD-related variables, such as congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, angina, or coronary heart disease. However, for dyslipidemia, BMI showed a significant interaction, indicating that the positive association between the UHR and dyslipidemia risk is influenced by participants' BMI. CONCLUSION: A high UHR is associated with an increased risk of various cardiovascular conditions and dyslipidemia. The incorporation of routine UHR monitoring into clinical practice can support the early identification of high-risk individuals, facilitate timely interventions, and reduce the burden of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.