Researchers speculate that hypertension increases the risk of gout and marked increased serum urate levels as the culprit.

"In an analysis of data from 10,872 participants in the population-based Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, Mara A. McAdams-DeMarco, MS, PhD, and colleagues found that hypertension was associated a twofold increased risk of gout after adjusting for confounders. When the investigators further adjusted for serum urate level, hypertension was associated with a 36% increased risk. The researchers observed no effect of gender, race, or obesity at baseline on gout risk, the researchers reported in The Journal of Clinical Hypertension (2012;14:675-679)."

Source:

http://www.renalandurologynews.com/hypertension-increases-gout-risk/article/263756/

A population based recent study published in BMJ correlated hypertension treatment has a beneficial effect for controlling gout as urate lowering properties, calcium channel blockers and losartan are associated with a lower risk of incident gout among people with hypertension. By contrast,diuretics, βblockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, and non-losartan angiotensin II receptor blockers are associated with an increased risk of gout.

For further reading I am sharing the BMJ article with this post.

Hope that helps!

Dear Didi

Traditionally serum uric acid levels only deserve attention when they produce clinical gout or urolithiasis. There is in any of the current guidelines to even measure any recommendations or even intervene in serum uric acid levels. At the last American guideline for primary prevention of stroke even uric acid word is mentioned, despite recent evidence.

source:

Primary prevention of ischemic stroke: a guideline from the American Heart Association / American Stroke Association Stroke Council. Circulation, vol. 113, n. 24, p. e873-e923, 2002 - Goldstein LB; Adams R; Alberts MJ et al.

Uric acid is a known herald of hypertension...Treatment is indicated once being symptomatic/ problematic and/ or exceeding cut-off of 10mg/dl...Needless to reemphasize that both hyperuricemia and hypertension are independent cardiovascular risk factors and need to be rigorously attended to forestall adverse outcomes at an era of comorbidities and polypharmacy; a lot of confounders are difficult to pinpoint in the arena!!! Again, pros and cons of medications as well as personalization of overall management should be poised by the end of the day...