Hyperuricemia is associated with increased hospitalization risk and healthcare costs: Evidence from an administrative database in Italy

Abstract Background and aim Chronic hyperuricemia is responsible for a relevant burden of articular diseases and cardio-nephrometabolic disorders. We evaluated the effect of high serum uric acid (SUA) levels on hospitalization risk and mortality and on healthcare costs in a real-life setting. Methods and results We conducted a retrospective analysis using a large administrative database and a clinical registry among 112,170 subjects from three Italian local health units. Individuals were divided into four groups according to their SUA levels: 6 mg/dL and ≤7 mg/dL (19.3%), >7 mg/dL and ≤8 mg/dL (8.7%), and >8 mg/dL (5.5%). Compared to those with SUA level of P  = 0.100; 2.21, P  = 0.005; and 1.17, P  = 0.703, respectively). A similar trend was also observed for hospitalization due to chronic kidney disease (CKD) (1.31, P P P P P P P  = 0.309; 1.21, P P 8 mg/dL). Conclusions Increased SUA levels are associated with an increased risk of hospitalizations related to hyperuricemia, CKD, and CVDs and total mortality, and consequently with higher total healthcare costs and hospitalization costs per patient.