Hyperuricemia is associated with an increased prevalence of ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction after primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the association between hyperuricemia and ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation (VT/VF) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).

METHODS

The data from a cohort of STEMI patients undergoing PPCI at our center from January 2013 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The endpoint of the study was the occurrence of VT/VF, including (1) non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (nsVT) on Holter monitoring; (2) sustained ventricular tachycardia (SVT)/VF on cardiac monitoring.

RESULTS

Of the 634 patients included in the study, 147 (23.2%) of them had hyperuricemia. The occurrence of VT/VF after PPCI was significantly higher in patients with hyperuricemia (19.0 vs. 9.4%, p = 0.001) compared with those without hyperuricemia. Hyperuricemia was associated with a significantly higher risk of VF/VT (odds ratio (OR) 2.11; 95% CI 1.11-4.03; p = 0.024). The strength of this association remained statistically after adjustments for age, sex, history of hypertension, estimated glomerular filtration rate, hypersensitive C reactive protein, plasma natrium, peak troponin I, fasting glucose, B-type natriuretic peptides and VT/VF in PPCI (adjusted odds ratio 2.73; 95% CI 1.19-6.27; p = 0.018).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a significant association between hyperuricemia and increased prevalence of VT/VF in STEMI patients after PPCI, independently of multiple risk factors and potential confounders.