A comparative study of intravascular ultrasound findings in elderly coronary heart disease patients with different uric acid levels / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the differences in intravascular ultrasound results in elderly coronary heart disease(CHD)patients with different uric acid levels.Methods:A total of 145 elderly patients diagnosed with CHD in our hospital from December 2017 to May 2020 were included as study subjects.Uric acid levels were measured and intravascular ultrasound examination was conducted in all patients.They were divided into different groups based on uric acid levels: Group A(uric acid≤199 μmol/L), Group B(uric acid 200~399 μmol/L)and Group C(uric acid≥400 μmol/L). Data from intravascular ultrasound-derived indexes were analyzed and compared between the three groups.Results:There was no significant difference in the degree of left main stenosis between Group A and Group B, but it was less severe in both groups than in Group C( F=5.625, P=0.039). Plaque fibrous cap thickness showed no significant difference between Group B and Group C, but it was smaller than in Group A( F=7.825, P=0.020). Group C had the largest plaque area and maximum thickness among the three groups, followed by Group B[(11.12±1.73)mm 2 and(1.76±0.24)mm]and Group A[(8.29±3.14)mm 2 and(1.38±0.09)mm]( F=6.384 and 6.827, P=0.028 and 0.015). Conclusions:Elevated uric acid levels in elderly CHD patients can increase the area and thickness of plaques, and reduce plaque fibrous cap thickness, leading to an increased risk of formation of unstable plaques, which can be life-threatening for these patients.Thus, monitoring and managing uric acid levels should be stressed in elderly CHD patients.