High uric acid associated with heart and kidney disease in type 1 diabetes

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between uric acid levels and the risk of heart and kidney disease in type 1 diabetes (T1D). The main finding was that patients with high uric acid levels had a higher risk of kidney disease, heart attacks, strokes, and death.

Uric acid (UA) is a substance that is released in the breakdown of purines. Purines are normally produced in the body but are also present in foods and drinks such as alcohol, seafood, organs, and meat. High amounts of UA in the blood cause it to be deposited in organs such as the kidney (causing kidney stones) and joints (causing gout). Recent studies have suggested that high levels of UA in patients with high blood pressure increased the risk of heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular/CV) disease. High levels of UA have also been associated with a higher mortality rate in patients with heart failure.

CV disease and kidney disease are common complications in people with T1D. Events that result from CV disease (CV events) include heart attacks, strokes, procedures needed on heart/blood vessels, amputations due to blood vessel disease and death from heart problems.

The power of UA levels to predict the risk of CV events, kidney disease and death in patients with T1D is under investigation.

This study included 670 patients with T1D. Associations between UA levels and kidney function decline, CV events, and death were analyzed. Patients were followed for an average of 5.3 years.

Patients who had a doubling UA level, were 3.18 times more likely to have a greater than 30% decrease in kidney function. These patients were also 2.25 times more likely to have a CV event (such as strokes or heart attacks) and 2.58 times more likely to die.

The authors concluded that a high level of UA is associated with a higher risk of decreasing kidney function, CV events, and death in patients with T1D.

This study only had a small number of patients from one medical institution. Further studies are needed in more diverse populations for stronger evidence.