Figure 1.

Theories on the causal association between hyperuricemia and selected cardiovascular diseases. Simple causal diagrams on the association between hyperuricemia and selected cardiovascular diseases. (a) Hyperuricemia has a direct effect on the development of hypertension and atherosclerosis, and an indirect effect on the development of coronary heart disease and stroke. (b) Besides the indirect effects described in (a), hyperuricemia has an independent effect on the development of coronary heart disease and stroke.