ASSESSMENT OF SERUM URIC ACID LEVELS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING MAINTENANCE HEMODIALYSIS AT THANH NHAN HOSPITAL

Objectives: To describe serum uric acid levels and to identify associated clinical and laboratory factors in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis at Thanh Nhan Hospital. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in patients aged 18 years or older with end-stage kidney disease who had been receiving maintenance hemodialysis (three sessions per week, four hours per session) for at least three months at the Hemodialysis Department, Thanh Nhan Hospital, from September 2025 to May 2026. Blood samples were collected before the first dialysis session of the week, immediately prior to the session and before anticoagulation. Hyperuricemia was defined as a serum uric acid level above 420 µmol/L in men and above 360 µmol/L in women. Results: A total of 302 eligible patients were analysed. The mean age was 59.91 ± 14.3 years; 56.6% were women and 43.4% were men. The mean serum uric acid level was 502.4 ± 92.8 µmol/L and the prevalence of hyperuricemia was 91.1%. Serum uric acid was positively correlated with serum creatinine (r = 0.42; p < 0.001), blood urea (r = 0.56; p < 0.001) and LDL cholesterol (r = 0.13; p < 0.05). No statistically significant correlation was found between serum uric acid and hemoglobin, albumin, total calcium, phosphorus, iron, ferritin, total cholesterol or triglycerides. Conclusion: Hyperuricemia was highly prevalent (91.1%) in patients on maintenance hemodialysis, with a mean serum uric acid level of 502.4 ± 92.8 µmol/L. Serum uric acid was moderately correlated with serum creatinine and blood urea, and weakly correlated with LDL cholesterol.