High Uric Acid Level Predicts Early Neurological Deterioration in Intracerebral Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: Increased level of serum uric acid (UA) is often considered a risk factor for ischemic stroke. However, there are limited data on the association between UA and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). This study aimed to examine the connection between UA and early neurological deterioration (END) in patients with ICH. METHODS: This is a prospective observational study. Patients with ICH were enrolled from January 2017 to December 2020. END was diagnosed as the Canadian Stroke Scale (CSS) score decreased ≥1 points between admission and 48 hours. UA was measured at admission. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the relationship between serum UA and END. RESULTS: Of the 498 enrolled patients, 132 (26.5%) were developed with END. Patients with END had a significantly higher level of serum UA (332 vs 270 µmol/L, P < 0.001). Univariate logistic regression analysis indicated that patients with the highest quartile of UA level had an OR of 3.256 (95% CI: 1.849–5.734, P < 0.001) for END compared with those with the lowest quartile of UA level. After adjusting for major confounders, the highest UA quartile remained as an independent predictor for END (OR = 2.282, 95% CI: 1.112–4.685, P = 0.013). CONCLUSION: Higher serum UA level was independently associated with END in patients with ICH; therefore, intervention to lower UA level may be worth considering.