Chauhan K, Pattharanitima P, Piani F, et al. - In patients with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) disease, increase catabolism can occur resulting in hyperuricemia. Researchers herein investigated if in patients with COVID-19, hyperuricemia contribute to acute kidney injury (AKI) and poor outcomes.

• Researchers examined if the first serum UA level is associated with development of acute kidney injury (AKI, defined by KDIGO criteria), major adverse kidney events (MAKE, defined by a composite of all-cause in-hospital mortality or dialysis or 100% increase in serum creatinine from baseline), as well as markers of inflammation and cardiac injury.

• A total of 834 patients, who were hospitalized with COVID-19 for > 24 h, were included (median age: 66 years, 42% women); their median first serum UA was 5.9 mg/dL (interquartile range 4.5–8.8).

• AKI occurred in 60%, MAKE occurred in 52%, and death was reported for 32% during hospitalization.

• Findings revealed an independent correlation of higher serum UA levels with AKI, MAKE, and in-hospital mortality in a dose-dependent manner.

• Hyperuricemia was noted to be linked with higher procalcitonin and troponin I levels.