SERUM URIC ACID AS A RISK FACTOR FOR STROKE IN A FISHING VILLAGE OF RURAL SOUTHERN JAPAN

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In order to clarify the risk factors for stroke from an epidemiological viewpoint, 314 men (aged 50-79) in the fishing village of Ushibuka were evaluated over an 8-year period ( 1970-1978) by means of multivariate analysis. At the systematic re-examinations in 1970, the following 11 variables were determined: age, systolic blood pressure, electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities, serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride, serum α-lipoprotein fraction, serum albumin, serum uric acid, drinking habits, smoking habits and body mass index. Thirty men experienced stroke during the 8-year period. The mean value of age, systolic blood pressure and serum uric acid were significantly higher in men who experienced stroke, while serum cholesterol, triglyceride, α-lipoprotein fraction and albumin were not seen as statistically significant. The high level of serum uric acid correlated with the high incidence of stroke. According to stepwise discriminant analysis of the I 1 variables, ECG abnormalities, systolic blood pressure and serum uric acid discriminated 73.9% of the men who experienced stroke. In conclusion, a high serum uric acid concentration is noted to be an important risk factor for stroke in the fishing village of Ushibuka where high intake of fish protein is common.