Increased uric acid (UA) levels have been reported to be associated with poor clinical outcomes in several conditions. However, the prognostic value of UA in patients with infective endocarditis (IE) is yet unknown.
A total of 1,117 patients with IE were included and divided into two groups according to the current definition of hyperuricemia (UA>420 μmol/L in men and >360 μmol/L in women): hyperuricemia group (n=336) and normouricemia group (n=781). The association between the UA level and short-term outcomes were examined.
The in-hospital mortality was 6.2% (69/1117). Patients with hyperuricemia carried a higher risk of in-hospital death (9.8%
The previous definition of hyperuricemia was not suitable for risk assessment in patients with IE because of the U-shaped relationship between UA levels and in-hospital death. Low and high levels of UA were predictive of increased short-term mortality in IE patients.