Significance of hyperuricemia on the early diagnosis of disease severity in sepsis

Abstract

Serum uric acid levels are an ideal marker in sepsis cases to assess oxidative stress and to predict disease prognosis. Elevated serum uric acid levels are associated with chronic disease conditions such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), cardiovascular disease (CVD). The present study was designed to assess the correlation between Hyperuricemia and mortality and morbidity in cases with clinically diagnosed sepsis. A total of 94 cases with a working diagnosis of sepsis above 18 years of age were recruited. The duration of hospital stay, mechanical ventilation, acute respiratory syndrome and acute kidney injury was noted. Patient discharge or death was considered an outcome of the sepsis. The most prevalent comorbidity was type 2 diabetes (44.68%), followed by type 1 diabetes (8.5%), type 2 diabetes with systemic hypertension (4.25%), chronic kidney disease (3.19%), cerebrovascular accident (3.19%), severe pulmonary disease (2.12%) and malignancy (2.12%). 59% cases had uric acid levels 7mg/dl. The comparison of uric acid levels with comorbidities (p=0.022), duration of hospital stay (p=0.003) and associated complications (p=0.003) was statistically significant. Hyperuricemia on patient arrival to the MICU with sepsis was associated with poor clinical outcome. High mortality rate was associated in cases with elevated uric acid levels.