Evaluation of uric acid as a biomarker for cardiovascular disease risk stratification among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Biomarkers may be needed to aid in the screening of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in diabetes mellitus (DM) to enhance early detection and foster early intervention in the management of chronic complications in DM. Hyperuricemia has been correlated with diabetic cardiovascular complication (CVC) and has been implicated in the development and manifestation of CVDs. Hence, this study intends to evaluate its role in CVD risk stratification among patients DM. Aim: Evaluation of the value of uric acid (UA) in CVDs risk stratification among type 2 diabetics. Patients, Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study made up of 101 type 2 DM and control participants. The diabetics were classified into two groups: depending on the presence or absence of CVCs. The CVC observed were diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, cardiovascular accident, and ischemic heart diseases. Blood samples were collected for the determination of glycated hemoglobin and UA. Results: UA increased significantly in diabetics with CVCs and especially among those with peripheral neuropathy and poorly controlled glycemic level. However, the diagnostic measures of UA has a poor ability to distinguish between patients with and without CVD. Conclusion: UA may not be diagnostically relevant in screening for CVDs in the bid to ease early diagnosis among diabetes patients despite its comparative increase among those with CVCs.