Association Between the Uric Acid to High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio and Residual Risk for Coronary Artery Disease.

Abstract

Despite advances in anti-atherosclerotic therapies, residual risk persists in coronary artery disease (CAD). The uric acid to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (UHR), a metabolic-inflammatory marker, may predict residual risk, but its association with plaque progression remains unexplored. This study investigates the impact of UHR on atherosclerotic plaque burden in CAD patients after treatment. In this prospective cohort study, 118 patients with newly diagnosed CAD undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention were stratified into quartiles by baseline UHR. Intravascular ultrasound assessed plaque burden and characteristics at baseline and 12-month follow-up. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline models evaluated associations between UHR and plaque progression, adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors. At baseline, the highest UHR quartile (UHR-4) exhibited higher rates of plaque rupture (19.6% vs. 0-8.7%, P = 0.002) and microchannels (56.5% vs. 33.3-55.3%, P = 0.031) compared to lower quartiles. Baseline percent atheroma volume (PAV) was greater in UHR-4 (52.73% vs. 51.04-52.09%, P = 0.006). At follow-up, UHR-4 had a 3.2-fold increased risk of plaque burden > 70% (adjusted RR 3.237, 95% CI 1.156-9.063, P = 0.025), with a linear UHR-plaque burden relationship (P = 0.015). No associations were observed between UHR and minimal lumen area or positive remodeling. Elevated UHR is independently associated with high atherosclerotic plaque burden (> 70%) in CAD patients under guideline-directed therapy after adjusting for traditional risk factors. UHR may serve as a complementary biomarker to existing risk scores, guiding targeted therapies to mitigate plaque vulnerability.