Impact of alcohol intake on the relationships of uric acid with blood pressure and cardiac hypertrophy in essential hypertension

Alcohol Intake and Arterial Hypertension: Retelling of a Multifaceted Story

Alcoholic beverages are common components of diets worldwide and understanding their effects on humans' health is crucial. Because hypertension is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality, the relationship of alcohol consumption with blood pressure (BP) has been the subject of extensive investigation. For the purpose of this review, we searched the terms "alcohol", "ethanol", and "arterial hypertension" on Pubmed MeSH and selected the most relevant studies. Short-term studies showed a biphasic BP response after ingestion of high doses of alcohol, and sustained alcohol consumption above 30 g/day, significantly, and dose-dependently, increased the risk for hypertension. These untoward effects of alcoholic beverages on BP can be mediated by a multiplicity of neurohormonal mechanisms. In addition to the effects on BP, excess alcohol intake might contribute to cardiac and renal hypertensive organ damage, although some studies suggest possible benefits of moderate alcohol consumption on additional cardiovascular risk factors, such as diabetes and lipoprotein(a). Some intervention studies and cumulative analyses support the evidence of a benefit of the reduction/withdrawal of alcohol consumption on BP and cardiovascular outcomes. This is why guidelines of scientific societies recommend avoidance or limitation of alcohol intake below one unit/day for women and two units/day for men. This narrative article overviews all these topics, providing an update of the current knowledge on the relationship between alcohol and BP.

Prevalence and Determinants of Hyperuricemia in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Attending Jimma Medical Center, Southwestern Ethiopia, 2019

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence and determinants of hyperuricemia among type 2 diabetic patients on follow-up at Jimma Medical Center from March 1 to June 30, 2019.

METHODS

This institution-based cross-sectional study was used to assess the level of serum uric acid in type 2 diabetic patients attending their follow-up at Jimma Medical Center chronic illness clinic. A systematic sampling technique was used to include 287 type 2 diabetic patients in the study and an interviewer-based questionnaire was used to collect important data from each participant. Five milliliters of blood were collected from each participant under sterile conditions and serum was separated by centrifugation at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes. Serum was stored at -20°C and analyzed for serum uric acid using an ABX Pentra 400 clinical chemistry analyzer. Bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression were used to assess significant associations between hyperuricemia and independent factors. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant in the final model.

RESULTS

The mean±SD age of the study participants was 51.79±14.36 years. The prevalence of hyperuricemia was found to be 22% (n=66/287) in the study population. Hyperuricemia was common in those aged ≥60 years and males. Obesity (AOR=7.84, 95% CI=2.005-30.666), duration of diabetes mellitus (DM) ≥10 years (AOR=3.963, 95% CI=1.902-8.259), family history of CVD (AOR=2.929, 95% CI=1.124-7.630), alcohol drinking (AOR=5.83, 95% CI=2.341-14.545) and increased DBP (AOR=4.198, 95% CI=1.772-9.949) were determinant variables for hyperuricemia in type 2 DM.

CONCLUSION

Hyperuricemia was relatively common among type 2 diabetic patients. The prevalence of hyperuricemia was common among patients with obesity, a long duration of DM and increased diastolic blood pressure, and alcohol drinkers. There is a need to raise awareness of lifestyle modification, healthy behavior and early diagnosis of hyperuricemia in type 2 diabetic patients.