Hyperuricemia and its Role in Assessing Severity of COPD: Evidence from a Hospital-Based Study

Abstract

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic debilitating disease. Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in COPD pathogenesis, and serum uric acid (SUA), a marker of oxidative stress, may serve as an indicator of disease severity. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between serum uric acid levels and COPD severity among patients at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 162 COPD patients diagnosed with GOLD guidelines. Spirometry was performed to classify disease severity into mild, moderate, severe, and very severe groups. Serum uric acid levels were measured using the Enzymatic-Colorimetric Trinder Endpoint method. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 26, and associations between SUA levels and COPD severity were determined using the chi-square test, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of participants was 64.1 ± 9.9 years, with a 97.5% male predominance. A significant proportion of patients had moderate (38.3%) and severe (29.6%) COPD, with only 16.7% having mild and 15.4% having very severe disease. Mean serum uric acid levels were significantly higher in patients with more severe COPD (5.2 ± 1.2 mg/dL in mild vs. 8.03 ± 1.5 mg/dL in very severe cases, p < 0.001). Additionally, serum uric acid levels correlated positively with disease duration, with the highest levels observed in patients with >10 years of COPD (7.9 mg/dL, p < 0.05). Among patients with a history of acute exacerbations, 94.1% had elevated SUA levels (p = 0.033). Conclusion: Serum uric acid levels correlate positively with COPD severity and disease duration, indicating its potential as a biomarker for disease progression. Monitoring SUA levels may aid in risk stratification and management of COPD, particularly in resource-limited settings.