Serum Uric Acid Is Associated with Poor Outcome in Black Africans in the Acute Phase of Stroke

BACKGROUND: Prognostic significance of serum uric acid (SUA) in acute stroke still remains controversial. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of hyperuricemia and its association with outcome of stroke patients in the Douala General Hospital (DGH). METHODS: This was a hospital based prospective cohort study which included acute stroke patients with baseline SUA levels and 3-month poststroke follow-up data. Associations between high SUA levels and stroke outcomes were analyzed using multiple logistic regression and survival analysis (Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier). RESULTS: A total of 701 acute stroke patients were included and the prevalence of hyperuricemia was 46.6% with a mean SUA level of 68.625 ± 24 mg/l. Elevated SUA after stroke was associated with death (OR = 2.067; 95% CI: 1.449–2.950; p < 0.001) but did not predict this issue. However, an independent association between increasing SUA concentration and mortality was noted in a Cox proportional hazards regression model (adjusted HR = 1.740; 95% CI: 1.305–2.320; p < 0.001). Furthermore, hyperuricemia was an independent predictor of poor functional outcome within 3 months after stroke (OR = 2.482; 95% CI: 1.399–4.404; p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hyperuricemia in black African stroke patients is quite high and still remains a predictor of poor outcome.