Uric Acid Level as a Predictor of Long-Term Mortality in Advanced Age Population

Hyperuricemia is associated with the development, progression and outcome of several diseases. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the serum uric acid (UA) levels as a predictor of long-term mortality in an older population (age 60 years and above).

Patients older than 60 years who were hospitalized in the departments of geriatrics and internal medicine in Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem during a period of 4 months (March-June 2014) were included in this observational study. Association between hyperuricemia and long-term mortality were analyzed using multiple logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards regressions analysis.

A total of 624 patients were included in our study with mean age of 77.2 ± 14.6 years. Overall, 381 patients died during the follow-up period (61.1%). Mortality rate in the hyperuricemic group (> 7 mg/dL) was higher (69.1%) than in the normouricemic group 58.4%. (P = 0.004). The median survival for hyperuricemic patients was significantly shorter compared to normouricemic patients (606 and 1018 days, respectively, P < 0.0001). High levels of UA were significantly associated with higher long-term mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease at their admission (P < 0.000).

Elevated levels of UA in older patients in acute settings is a predictor of long-term mortality.