Role of Uric Acid Albumin Ratio in Predicting Development of Acute Kidney Injury and Mortality in Intensive Care Unit Patients

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of hypoalbuminemia and hyperuricemia, and investigate uric acid albumin ratio association with mortality and acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill patients.

Materials and Methods: We evaluated 754 patients who were admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) between 2008 and 2014. We investigated the effects of hypoalbuminemia and uric acid / albumin ratio on mortality and AKI.

Results: A total of 754 critically ill patients (52.4% male and mean age 57.1±18.7 years) were enrolled in this study. Among them, 72.8% (549/754) patients had hypoalbuminemia during the admission to ICU. A total of 381/754 (50.5%) patients developed AKI. The 28-day mortality rate was significantly higher in hypoalbuminemia group than in normal plasma albumin group [35.7% (196) vs. 18.5% (38), p=0.01]. The uric acid level higher than 7 mg/dl was associated with AKI (p<0.001). Uric acid albumin ratio higher than 1.7 was significantly associated with AKI and 28-day mortality (p<0.001 and p<0.001).

Conclusion: This study successfully confirmed that hypoalbuminemia in ICU admission has been independently associated with increased early death and AKI in critically ill patients; and uric acid albumin ratio could be a marker to predict AKI and mortality.

Cite this article as: Yeter HH, Eyüpoğlu D, Paşayev T, Çetik S, Akçay ÖF, Yıldırım T. Role of Uric Acid Albumin Ratio in Predicting Development of Acute Kidney Injury and Mortality in Intensive Care Unit Patients. Turk J Nephrol 2019; 28(3): 160-7.