Serum Uric Acid Level and its Association with Severity in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background: Cerebrovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major public health issue around the world. Elevated serum uric acid levels may predict an increased risk for cerebrovascular events particularly acute ischemic stroke. Aim of the study: The aim of our study was to assess the association between serum uric acid level and severity of acute ischemic stroke. Methods: This observational case control study was conducted at the department of Neurology and at the department of Medicine in Dhaka Medical College Hospital from July 2018 to June 2020. This study included 50 acute ischemic stroke patients and 50 age and gender matched healthy controls. Along with the routine investigations, estimation of serum uric acid was done in all participants. The severity of stroke was assessed as per national institutes of health stroke scale (NIHSS). After collection of all the required data, analysis was done by SPSS 23.0. Results: The mean age and distribution of the age in different age group were matched between case and control groups (p=0.607 and 0.763 respectively). The mean age of the ischemic stroke cases was 62.14±9.77 years. The mean NIHSS score of the patients was 16.34±10.34. Of all, 18% had minor stroke, 32% had moderate stroke, 20% had moderate to severe stroke and 30% had severe stroke. Among stroke patients 58% had elevated uric acid level and among controls 20% had raised uric acid in serum. The number of patients having elevated serum uric acid is statistically significantly higher in case group than control group (p<0.001). Multivariate regression analysis showed hypertension (OR 4.046; 95% CI 1.432–11.432; p=0.008), DM (OR 3.063; 95% CI 1.030-9.105; p=0.044), dyslipidemia (OR 3.031; 95% CI 1.062-8.654; p=0.038) and elevated serum uric acid level (OR 6.019, 95% CI 2.220–16.317; p<0.001) independently associated with acute ischemic stroke (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study shows elevated serum uric acid level significantly associated with severity of acute...........