Uric acid as a biomarker in patients with COPD and CKD

Introduction : High uric acid level is a risk factor for the development of CKD. It is also a biomarker associated with exacerbations, severity, and progression of COPD. Aim : To investigate the role of uric acid in the development of CKD in patients with COPD. Materials and methods : This was a prospective study of 90 outpatients with stable COPD, conducted over two visits between June 2023 and January 2025. The patients were divided into two groups: one group had COPD with CKD, and the other had COPD without CKD, as determined by their glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The study investigated the relationship between elevated uric acid levels and the presence of CKD in COPD patients. The data was processed using SPSS, version 20.0. A p -value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results : Forty-two and two-tenths percent of patients had COPD and CKD at the first visit, increasing to 52.6% at the second. An inverse correlation between serum uric acid levels and eGFR was identified ( p =0.010). A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups with respect to elevated uric acid levels. In the group with eGFR<60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , 62.5% of patients had hyperuricemia ( p =0.007). A statistically significant difference was also observed in the mean serum uric acid levels between patients with and without CKD: 442.95 µmol/L versus 376.4 µmol/L, respectively ( p =0.003). During dynamic follow-up of serum uric acid levels, a statistically significant difference between the groups with and without CKD was also established ( p =0.04). Conclusion : Elevated uric acid levels are a risk factor for the development of CKD in patients with COPD, serving as a biomarker with moderate sensitivity but low specificity.