The effectiveness of uric acid in determining prognosis in nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding and its comparison with risk scores

Mustafa Yilmaz Gok; Akkan Avci; Yeliz Simsek; Aysun Sahin; Senem Derya Tatar; Erdem Aksay; Ahmet Burak Urfalioglu; Sadiye Yolcu

doi:10.4103/tjem.tjem_190_25

Mustafa Yilmaz Gok¹, Akkan Avci¹, Yeliz Simsek¹, Aysun Sahin², Senem Derya Tatar¹, Erdem Aksay¹, Ahmet Burak Urfalioglu¹, Sadiye Yolcu¹

¹Department of Emergency, Adana City Research and Training Hospital, Health Science University, Adana, Türkiye
²Reyhanli State Hospital, Hatay, Türkiye

Keywords: Mortality, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, uric acid

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Studies examining the prognostic significance of uric acid specifically in upper nonvariceal gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) are limited. We aim to investigate whether uric acid levels have prognostic value in patients diagnosed with NVUGIB.

METHODS: This study was retrospective. Patients aged >18 diagnosed with NVUGIB were included in the study. Patients’ demographic data, vital signs, comorbid diseases, results of laboratory parameters, endoscopy findings, transfusion requirements, recurrent bleeding, and outcomes (discharge and death) were recorded. Albumin; International normalized ratio; Mental status; Shock; Age 65 (AIMS65) score, Rockall, and Glasgow–Blatchford scores were calculated for all patients based on information obtained from patient files. Pearson correlation test, independent samples t test, and simple linear regression analysis were utilized to examine the relationship between uric acid levels and various measurements. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: One hundred and eighty nine patients, 30.7% of whom were women, were included in the study, and the mean age was 61.67 ± 19.28 years. While the mean uric acid level of discharged patients was 5.6 ± 2.04 mg/dL, the mean uric acid level of deceased patients was 6.81 ± 2.77 mg/dL. Uric acid level had a significant effect on mortality (P = 0.023) according to univariate analysis. There was a positive correlation between uric acid and both the AIMS65 score (P = 0.001) and the Rockall score (P = 0.001), indicating statistical significance.

CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that elevated serum uric acid levels can serve as a valuable factor in preendoscopy risk assessment. Higher uric acid levels are associated with an increased likelihood of mortality.

How to cite this article: Gok MY, Avci A, Simsek Y, Sahin A, Tatar SD, Aksay E, et al. The effectiveness of uric acid in determining prognosis in nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding and its comparison with risk scores. Turk J Emerg Med 2026;26:124-31.