High urea levels associated with increased left ventricular hypertrophy risk, suggests study

Wantai Dang and team from the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College found the potential associations of echocardiographic parameters with cardiovascular health in gout patients. The findings of the study were published in Frontiers in Physiology.

This study was conducted from November 2019 to December 2020 to provide a clinical foundation for early diagnosis and intervention in cardiovascular diseases among gout patients.

The study included gout patients from outpatient and inpatient departments and utilized two-dimensional speckle tracking analysis. Spearman correlation tests were also employed to dissect the relationships between laboratory indicators and echocardiographic parameters. 

Multivariate logistic regression found elevated fasting plasma glucose which emerged as a risk factor for the reduction in the absolute value of global longitudinal strain (GLS). This emphasized its important role in subclinical left ventricular myocardial dysfunction. Urea marker was revealed as a risk factor for the absolute reduction in global circumferential strain (GCS). Age and hypertension were identified to be contributors that increased E/Em and marked an association with potential cardiovascular implications.

The study showed that heightened urea levels correlated with an increased risk of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and an enlargement of left atrial volume index (LAVI) by underlining the systemic impact of gout on cardiac health.

This comprehensive study establishes a critical link between gout and subclinical left ventricular dysfunction and also identifies specific risk factors. Elevated urea and fasting plasma glucose levels were highlighted as significant contributors by laying the groundwork for early diagnosis and targeted treatment strategies in clinical practice. The outcomes of this study unravel the intricate interplay between metabolic disorders and cardiovascular health and takes us a step closer toward a more accurate understanding and enhanced care for patients with gout.

Source:

Dang, W., Luo, D., Hu, J., Luo, H., Xu, X., & Liu, J. (2023). Analysis of risk factors for changes of left ventricular function indexes in Chinese patients with gout by echocardiography. Frontiers in Physiology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2023.1280178