Is hyperuricemia a risk factor of stroke and coronary heart disease among Africans?

Background: Uric acid stabilizes platelet aggregation and enhances thrombotic tendency. Objective: To examine the relationship between raised serum uric acid and subsequent cardiovascular events (mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke). Methods: This is a longtitudinal study in a small random number (418) of patients in Kinshasa, Congo. In this hospital-based study, uricemia was determined with respect to gender, obesity and hypertension as well correlated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors. A univariate regression model was used to investigate the association of serum uric acid with the incidence of mortality, stroke and myocardial infarction. Results: Serum uric acid was higher ( P