The relationship between anemia and hyperuricemia and hypertension in Korean adults: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016–2018

Abstract

Objective

It is unclear whether uric acid (UA) has a negative or positive effect on anemia, and this may vary depending on the presence or absence of chronic disease such as hypertension (HTN). The present study was conducted to assess the relationship between anemia and hyperuricemia in Korean adults with or without hypertension.

Methods

Data from 16,740 adults (age ≥20 years) in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016 − 2018) were analyzed.

Results

Several key findings were identified. First, after adjusting for the related variables in the non-HTN group, the odds ratio (OR) of anemia (hemoglobin [Hb] ≥ 13.0 mg/dL in men and ≥12.0 mg/dL in women), using the normouricemia (UA < 7.0 mg/dL in men and UA < 6.0 mg/dL in women) as a reference, was inversely significant for the hyperuricemia (UA ≥ 7.0 mg/dL in men and ≥6.0 mg/dL in women) in the overall population (OR, 0.589; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.409–0.848) and women (OR, 0.575; 95% CI, 0.363–0.909) but not in men (OR, 0.836; 95% CI, 0.441–1.586). Second, after adjusting for the related variables in the HTN group, the OR of anemia, using the normouricemia as a reference, was positively significant for the hyperuricemia in the overall population (OR, 1.501; 95% CI, 1.167–1.930), men (OR, 1.706; 95% CI, 1.154–2.523), and women (OR, 1.512; 95% CI, 1.079–2.210).

Conclusions

Hyperuricemia was positively associated with anemia in men and women with HTN. Hyperuricemia was inversely associated with anemia in women without HTN but not in men without HTN.

Keywords:

• Uric acid
• anemia
• hypertension
• cardiovascular disease
• gender differences

Transparency Declaration of funding

This paper was not funded.

Declaration of financial/other relationships

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Author contributions

Sang Muk Park, Mi Young Gi, Ju Ae Cha, Hyun Ho Sung, So Young Park, Cho Hee Park, and Hyun Yoon conceptualized and designed the study. Sang Muk Park and Hyun Yoon analysis and interpretation of the data.

Acknowledgements

None.

Data availability statement

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.