Does serum uric acid levels predict in-hospital mortality in severe COPD exacerbations?

Abstract

Introduction: Recent data showed high levels of serum uric acid is related with long-term mortality in COPD patients. In this study we wanted to evaluate whether high levels of uric acid is related with in-hospital mortality in severe COPD exacerbations which required intensive care unit admission. Methods: COPD patients who developed acute respiratory failure due to an exacerbation were included into the study. Patients' demographic and clinical characteristics and follow-up data were prospectively recorded. Results: A total of 70 patients (53 male; 75.7%) were included. The median age was 71,5 and median APACHE 2 score was 25.5. Median blood gas values were 7.26 for pH, 71.5mmHg for PaCO2 and 53.0mmHg for PaO2. Fiftynine patients were followed with noninvasive ventilatory support (84.3%) whereas others (n=11; 15.7%) followed with invasive mechanical ventilation. Length of hospital stay was 16days, with a mortality of 41.4%. Serum uric acid levels were higher in non-survivors than in survivors (9.6 vs 6.1mg/dl; p<0.01) Conclusion: In this study we found that higher serum uric acid levels were related with in-hospital mortality. Therefore high serum uric acid levels are predictive for not only long term mortality but also for short term mortality.