title: Serum uric acid as a prognostic marker in the setting of advanced vascular disease: a prospective study in the elderly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many epidemiological studies analyze the relationship between hyperuricemia and cardiovascular outcomes. This observational prospective study investigates the association of serum uric acid (SUA) levels with adverse cardiovascular events and deaths in an elderly population affected by advanced atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and seventy six elderly patients affected by advanced atherosclerosis (217 males and 59 females; aged 71.2 ± 7.8 years) were included. All patients were assessed for history of cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity and traditional risk factors. Patients were followed for approximately 31 ± 11 months. Major events were recorded during follow-up, defined as myocardial infarction, cerebral ischemia, myocardial and/or peripheral revascularization and death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean SUA level was 5.47 ± 1.43 mg/dL; then we further divided the population in two groups, according to the median value (5.36 mg/dL). During a median follow up of 31 months (5 to 49 months), 66 cardiovascular events, 9 fatal cardiovascular events and 14 cancer-related deaths have occurred. The patients with increased SUA level presented a higher significant incidence of total cardiovascular events (HR: 1.867, P = 0.014, 95% CI: 1.134-3.074). The same patients showed a significant increased risk of cancer-related death (HR: 4.335, P = 0.025, 95% CI: 1.204-15.606).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased SUA levels are independently and significantly associated with risk of cardiovascular events and cancer related death in a population of mainly elderly patients affected by peripheral vasculopathy.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Department, Ospedale Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, viale Cappuccini, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Stolfo
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Department, Ospedale Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, viale Cappuccini, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mastroianno
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Department, Ospedale Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, viale Cappuccini, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico Rosario
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Potenza
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Department, Ospedale Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, viale Cappuccini, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Department, Ospedale Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, viale Cappuccini, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: d'Arienzo
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Department, Ospedale Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, viale Cappuccini, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele Antonio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pacilli
authors.affiliation: Cardiologia Universitaria, University of Foggia, Ospedali Riuniti Di Foggia, viale Luigi Pinto, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fanelli
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Department, Ospedale Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, viale Cappuccini, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Department, Ospedale Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, viale Cappuccini, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fanelli
keywords: Cardiovascular events; Peripheral artery disease; Uric acid