Uric acid levels and outcome from coronary artery bypass grafting.
OBJECTIVE
Elevated uric acid levels have been associated with an adverse cardiovascular outcome in several settings. Their utility in patients undergoing surgical revascularization has not, however, been assessed. We hypothesized that serum uric acid levels would predict the outcome of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.


METHODS
The study cohort consisted of 1140 consecutive patients undergoing nonemergency coronary artery bypass grafting. Clinical details were obtained prospectively, and serum uric acid was measured a median of 1 day before surgery. The primary end point was all-cause mortality.


RESULTS
During a median of 4.5 years, 126 patients (11%) died. Mean (+/- standard deviation) uric acid levels were 390 +/- 131 micromol/L in patients who died versus 353 +/- 86 micromol/L among survivors (hazard ratio 1.48 per 100 micromol/L; 95% confidence interval, 1.25-1.74; P < .001). The excess risk associated with an elevated uric acid was particularly evident among patients in the upper quartile (>or=410 micromol/L; hazard ratio vs all other quartiles combined 2.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.53-3.11; P < .001). After adjusting for other potential prognostic variables, including the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation, uric acid remained predictive of outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Increasing levels of uric acid are associated with poorer survival after coronary artery bypass grafting. Their prognostic utility is independent of other recognized risk factors, including the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation.
Hillis
Graham S
GS
Department of Cardiology, University of Aberdeen and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, United Kingdom. ghillis@george.org.au
Cuthbertson
Brian H
BH
Gibson
Patrick H
PH
McNeilly
Jane D
JD
Maclennan
Graeme S
GS
Jeffrey
Robert R
RR
Buchan
Keith G
KG
El-Shafei
Hussein
H
Gibson
George
G
Croal
Bernard L
BL
D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*
D014527:Uric Acid