SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Utility of Serum Gout Level in Acute Gout Flare During Hospital Visits

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This retrospective study evaluated whether serum uric acid is useful for diagnosing acute gout flares during hospital and emergency department visits. Using HCA Healthcare South Atlantic Enterprise data from 2016 to 2018, researchers identified 4,597 patients with non-chronic gout based on ICD-10 codes. Only 781 patients (16.9%) had a serum uric acid level checked during evaluation.<br /><br />Among those tested, 28.6% had uric acid levels below 6 mg/100mL, 35.2% were between 6 and 8 mg/100mL, and 36.2% were above 8 mg/100mL. These differences were not statistically significant. Overall, using serum uric acid to diagnose acute gout produced a sensitivity of only 36%, showing that many patients with gout have uric acid levels in the normal or low range during an acute flare.<br /><br />The study supports prior evidence that serum uric acid is often not elevated during acute gout attacks and therefore has limited diagnostic value in the acute setting. The authors note that uric acid testing may be more useful after the flare has resolved, when it can help establish a baseline level.<br /><br />Limitations included the retrospective design, reliance on provider-assigned ICD-10 codes, possible inclusion of some chronic gout cases, and lack of data on medications that can affect uric acid levels. Future research could examine uric acid levels one month after an acute flare and consider medication effects.<br /><br />Overall, the study concludes that serum uric acid has limited clinical utility for diagnosing acute gout flares in hospitalized patients.

Asset Subtitle

Dominic C. Collins

Meta Tag

Author List Chima Ohadugha, Dominic C. Collins, Victor Collier

Category Research

Concept Gout

Concept Joint Aspiration

Concept Uric Acid Crystal

Concept Joint inflammation

Concept Crystal Identification

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Grand Strand Medical Center

Presenting Author Dominic C. Collins

Track Value in Hospital Medicine

Keywords

acute gout

serum uric acid

diagnostic sensitivity

hospital visits

emergency department

retrospective study

ICD-10 codes

hyperuricemia

gout flare

clinical utility

Gout

Joint Aspiration

Uric Acid Crystal

Joint inflammation

Crystal Identification