Relationship between Uric Acid Levels and Diagnostic and Prognostic Outcomes in Acute Heart Failure.

OBJECTIVES We evaluated the association of plasma uric acid alone and in combination with b-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) for emergency department (ED) diagnosis and 30-day prognosis in patients evaluated for acute heart failure (AHF). METHODS We prospectively enrolled 322 adult ED patients with suspected AHF. Wilcoxon rank sum test, multivariable logistic regression and likelihood ratio (LR) tests were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS Uric acid's diagnostic utility was poor and failed to show significant associations with 30-day clinical outcomes. Uric acid also did not add significantly to BNP results. CONCLUSION Among ED patients with suspected AHF, uric acid has poor diagnostic and prognostic utility.