Admission Albumin Levels Research Articles

Lower Admission Prealbumin and Albumin Levels in Unhoused Burn Patients Is a Marker for Poorer Outcomes.

Unhoused (UH) individuals experience burn injuries at a higher rate than domiciled individuals, and have poorer outcomes following injuries. One such mechanism proposed for worsened outcomes is secondary to poor nutrition. Access to proper nutrition and food insecurity are major barriers. Malnutrition has been shown to decrease wound tensile strength, increase infection rates, and prolong healing. The purpose of this study was to understand if albumin and prealbumin could help determine outcomes in UH patients and identify at-risk patients earlier in their hospital course. A retrospective chart review was conducted of UH patients from 2015 through 2023 at a large urban safety net hospital. Data collected included admission laboratory values including albumin and prealbumin. Outcomes studied included length of stay (LOS), Intensive Care Unit (ICU) days, ventilator days, and mortality. Data analysis for the effect of albumin and prealbumin included a zero-truncated negative binomial model for LOS, a negative binomial hurdle model for ICU LOS and ventilator days, and logistic regression for mortality. Three hundred and eighty-five patients met inclusion criteria and of these, 366 had albumin and 361 had prealbumin information. Adjusting for age, gender, and total body surface area, the fewest days in the hospital and lowest odds of admission to the ICU occurred for those with admission albumin values of approximately 3.4-3.5 g/dL. Each unit (g/dL) decrease in albumin was associated with 3.19 times the odds of death (95% CI: 1.42, 7.69). Each unit (mg/dL) decrease in prealbumin was associated with 1.19 times the odds of death (95% CI: 1.06, 1.35). Decreased admission albumin and prealbumin levels are associated with worse burn outcomes in UH patients. These nutritional biomarkers may aid in determining which UH patients are suffering from food insecurity at injury onset. Obtaining these values on admission may help burn providers target nutritional goals in their most vulnerable patients.

Association between admission albumin levels and 30-day readmission after hip fracture surgery in geriatric patients: a propensity score-matched study

PurposeThis study aimed to evaluate the correlation admission albumin levels and 30-day readmission after hip fracture surgery in geriatric patients.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, 1270 geriatric patients admitted for hip fractures to a level I trauma center were included. Patients were stratified by clinical thresholds and albumin level quartiles. The association between admission albumin levels and 30-day readmission risk was assessed using multivariate logistic regression and propensity score-matched analyses. The predictive accuracy of albumin levels for readmission was evaluated by ROC curves. The dose–response relationship between albumin levels and readmission risk was examined. ResultsThe incidence of 30-day readmission was significantly higher among hypoalbuminemia patients than those with normal albumin levels (OR = 2.090, 95%CI:1.296–3.370, p = 0.003). Furthermore, propensity score-matched analyses demonstrated that patients in the Q2(35.0–37.9 g/L) (OR 0.621, 95%CI 0.370–1.041, p = 0.070), Q3(38.0–40.9 g/L) (OR 0.378, 95%CI 0.199–0.717, p < 0.001) and Q4 (≥ 41 g/L) (OR 0.465, 95%CI 0.211–0.859, p = 0.047) quartiles had a significantly lower risk of 30-day readmission compared to those in the Q1(< 35 g/L) quartile. These associations remained significant after propensity score matching (PSM) and subgroup analyses. Dose–response relationships between albumin levels and 30-day readmission were observed.ConclusionsLower admission albumin levels were independently associated with higher 30-day readmission rates in elderly hip fracture patients. Our findings indicate that serum albumin may assist perioperative risk assessment, and prompt correction of hypoalbuminemia and malnutrition could reduce short-term readmissions after hip fracture surgery in this high-risk population.

Mechanical ventilation in acute myocardial infarction: Outcomes from a prospective audit at a cardiovascular hospital in Pakistan.

This clinical audit aims to evaluate the clinical data regarding the management and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients requiring mechanical ventilator (MV) support, along with identifying factors associated with prolonged MV support and 180-day mortality. In this study, we audited clinical data regarding management, in-hospital and short-term outcomes of adult patients with AMI required MV support. Patients with prolonged MV duration (>24h) and/or 180-day mortality were compared with their counterparts, and associated factors were identified. The binary logistic and Cox regression analyses were performed to determine the predictors of prolonged MV duration and 180-day mortality. In a sample of 312 patients, 72.8% were male, and the mean age was 60.3±11.5 years. The median MV duration was 24 [24-48] hours, with 48.7% prolonged MV duration. The admission albumin level was found to be the independent predictor of prolonged MV duration with an adjusted OR of 0.42 [0.22-0.82]. Overall 7.4% were re-intubated, 6.7% needed renal replacement therapy, 17.6% required intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) placement, and 16.7% required temporary pacemaker placement. The survival rate was 80.4% at the time of hospital discharge, 74.7% at 30-day, 71.2% at 90-day, and 68.6% at 180-day follow-up. Age, prolonged MV duration, and ejection fraction were found to be the independent predictors of cumulative 180-day mortality with adjusted HR of 1.04 [1.02-1.07], 1.02 [1.01-1.03], and 0.95 [0.92-0.98], respectively. Prolonged ventilator duration has significant prognostic implications; hence, tailored early recognition of high-risk patients needing more aggressive care can improve the outcomes.

The Correlation of Malnutrition with Mortality and Morbidity According to Global Initiative on Malnutrition Criteria in the Palliative Care Unit.

The objective of this study was to retrospectively assess the correlation of malnutrition with mortality and morbidity according to Global Initiative on Malnutrition criteria in patients with the diagnosis of lung cancer hospitalized in the palliative care unit. The sample of the study consisted of the data of 705 patients with lung cancer, who were hospitalized in the palliative care unit in a training and research hospital between January 2018 and January 2020. All the patients' demographic characteristics, disease-related data, laboratory values, Global Initiative on Malnutrition scores, mortality in the last 3 months, and recurrent hospitalizations in the last 3 months were recorded from the patient records and automation system. According to the Global Initiative on Malnutrition criteria, 64 (9.2%) of the patients had malnutrition. There was a negative correlation between the ages and the admission albumin levels of patients with malnutrition who passed away in the last 3 months. No correlation was found between malnutrition and duration of mortality according to Global Initiative on Malnutrition criteria. Moreover, a difference was found between C-reactive protein and albumin levels of the patients according to the degree of malnutrition. It is recommended that nurses should start nutritional assessments of patients immediately when the patient is admitted to hospital.

Hypoalbuminemia increases complications in elderly patients operated for hip fracture.

Hip fracture is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in elderly people. A drop in serum albumin after hip surgery has been reported, but few data are available on the effect on complications. The aim of this study was to assess the role of two distinct orthopedic surgical procedures (fixation or prosthesis) and pre-surgery albumin serum level on the development of clinical complications. Of 176 subjects aged 65 and older with hip fracture hospitalized either in orthopedics or geriatrics ward in a 15-month period, the data of 152 patients were analyzed. Interventions were fixation or prosthesis. Measurements included gender, age, surgical procedure, medical complications, admission albumin level (g/L), and post-surgical albumin level (g/L). All patients (n = 152), regardless of the surgical procedure, underwent a loss of albumin from (mean ± standard deviation) 32.6 ± 4.3 to 25.0 ± 3.8g/L. Complications were associated with albumin level both at pre-surgery (no complications mean ± SD 33.9 ± 3.5g/L; n = 80; complications mean ± SD 31.2 ± 4.7g/L; n = 72; p < 0.001) and post-surgery (no complications mean ± SD 26.2 ± 3.5g/L; n = 80; complications mean ± SD 23.7 ± 3.6g/L; n = 72; p < 0.001). When considering a multivariable model, an increased risk in the incidence of complications was found in subjects with preoperative albumin below 30g/L (reference albumin greater than or equal to 30g/L; OR 3.74; CI 95% 1.43-9.80) and in subjects undergoing prosthesis procedure (reference: fixation; OR 1.97; CI 95% 1.00-3.88). We observed that fixation and prosthesis were associated with a decrease in albumin level. Given a low pre-surgery level of albumin, the risk of complications was higher than in patient with pre-surgery normal level of albumin. This pilot study suggests further prospective research, considering whether albumin administration could be effective in preventing a fall in the albumin level after surgery, thus reducing the postoperative complication rate.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease admitted to the intensive care unit due to acute hypercapnic respiratory failure.

The study aimed to describe the clinical course, outcomes, and prognostic factors of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure. This retrospective study involved patients with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure due to COPD of any cause admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) support between December 2015 and February 2020. One hundred patients were evaluated. The main causes of acute hypercapnic respiratory failure were bronchitis, pneumonia, and heart failure. The patients' mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score was 23.0±7.2, and their IMV rate was 43%. ICU, in-hospital, and 90-day mortality rates were 21%, 29%, and 39%, respectively. Non-survivors had more pneumonia, shock within the first 24 hours of admission, IMV, vasopressor use, and renal replacement therapy, along with higher APACHE II scores, lower admission albumin levels and PaO2/ FiO2 ratios, and longer ICU and hospital stays than survivors. Logistic regression analysis identified APACHE II score (odds ratio [OR], 1.157; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.017-1.317; P=0.026), admission PaO2/FiO2 ratio (OR, 0.989; 95% CI, 0.978-0.999; P=0.046), and vasopressor use (OR, 8.827; 95% CI, 1.650-47.215; P=0.011) as predictors of ICU mortality. APACHE II score (OR, 1.099; 95% CI, 1.021-1.182; P=0.011) and admission albumin level (OR, 0.169; 95% CI, 0.056-0.514; P=0.002) emerged as predictors of 90-day mortality. APACHE II scores, the PaO2/FiO2 ratio, vasopressor use, and albumin levels are significant short-term mortality predictors in severely ill COPD patients with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure.

Association of Different Malnutrition Parameters and Clinical Outcomes among COVID-19 Patients: An Observational Study.

Background: Malnutrition is highly prevalent in medical inpatients and may also negatively influence clinical outcomes of patients hospitalized with COVID-19. We analyzed the prognostic implication of different malnutrition parameters with respect to adverse clinical outcomes in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Methods: In this observational study, consecutively hospitalized adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 at the Cantonal Hospital Aarau (Switzerland) were included between February and December 2020. The association between Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) on admission, body mass index, and admission albumin levels with in-hospital mortality and secondary endpoints was studied by using multivariable regression analyses. Results: Our analysis included 305 patients (median age of 66 years, 66.6% male) with a median NRS 2002-score of 2.0 (IQR 1.0, 3.0) points. Overall, 44 patients (14.4%) died during hospitalization. A step-wise increase in mortality risk with a higher nutritional risk was observed. When compared to patients with no risk for malnutrition (NRS 2002 < 3 points), patients with a moderate (NRS 2002 3–4 points) or high risk for malnutrition (NRS 2002 ≥ 5 points) had a two-fold and five-fold increase in risk, respectively (10.5% vs. 22.7% vs. 50.0%, p < 0.001). The increased risk for mortality was also confirmed in a regression analysis adjusted for gender, age, and comorbidities (odds ratio for high risk for malnutrition 4.68, 95% CI 1.18 to 18.64, p = 0.029 compared to patients with no risk for malnutrition). Conclusions: In patients with COVID-19, the risk for malnutrition was a risk factor for in-hospital mortality. Future studies should investigate the role of nutritional treatment in this patient population.

Patients with hemodialysis-induced hypoxemia had a poor prognosis of COVID-19

BackgroundWe experienced that some hemodialysis (HD) patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exacerbated hypoxemia during HD. Though HD-induced hypoxemia has been reported, there have been no reports of HD-induced hypoxemia in patients with COVID-19 and its effect on prognosis of COVID-19.MethodsEleven HD patients admitted with COVID-19 from August 2020 to April 2021 were classified into the patients whose oxygen demand increased by more than 3 L/min with mask during HD (worsened group, n = 5) and others (not-worsened group, n = 6). The background, laboratory findings, severity of COVID-19 and prognosis were compared between the two groups. In addition, blood gases were measured before and after dialysis among HD patients admitted with COVID-19 on April 2021 (n = 3).ResultsThere were no significant differences in backgrounds, except for a higher proportion of diabetes mellitus in worsened group (p = 0.04). Although laboratory findings were not significantly different on admission day, albumin and LDH levels 7 days after admission were significantly lower and higher in worsened group, respectively (p = 0.03 and < 0.01). The severity of COVID-19 and survival rate were significantly worse in worsened group (p = 0.01 and 0.03). The alveolar-arterial oxygen pressure difference (Aa-DO2) opened during HD in a patient with HD-induced hypoxemia, but did not open in patients without HD-induced hypoxemia.ConclusionsThere is a close relationship among HD-induced hypoxemia and poor prognosis of COVID-19. The HD-induced hypoxemia of patients with COVID-19 may be caused by ventilation/perfusion mismatching.

The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index as a predictor of complications in geriatric trauma patients.

Malnutrition is associated with increased morbidity and mortality after trauma. The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) is a validated scoring system used to predict the risk of complications related to malnutrition in nontrauma patients. We hypothesized that GNRI is predictive of worse outcomes in geriatric trauma patients. This was a single-center retrospective study of trauma patients 65 years or older admitted in 2019. Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index was calculated based on admission albumin level and ratio of actual body weight to ideal body weight. Groups were defined as major risk (GNRI <82), moderate risk (GNRI 82-91), low risk (GNRI 92-98), and no risk (GNRI >98). The primary outcome was mortality. Secondary outcomes included ventilator days, intensive care unit length of stay (LOS), hospital LOS, discharge home, sepsis, pneumonia, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between GNRI risk category and outcomes. A total of 513 patients were identified for analysis. Median age was 78 years (71-86 years); 24 patients (4.7%) were identified as major risk, 66 (12.9%) as moderate risk, 72 (14%) as low risk, and 351 (68.4%) as no risk. Injury Severity Scores and Charlson Comorbidity Indexes were similar between all groups. Patients in the no risk group had decreased rates of death, and after adjusting for Injury Severity Score, age, and Charlson Comorbidity Index, the no risk group had decreased odds of death (odds ratio, 0.13; 95% confidence interval, 0.04-0.41) compared with the major risk group. The no risk group also had fewer infectious complications including sepsis and pneumonia, and shorter hospital LOS and were more likely to be discharged home. Major GNRI risk is associated with increased mortality and infectious complications in geriatric trauma patients. Further studies should target interventional strategies for those at highest risk based on GNRI. Prognostic and Epidemiologic; Level III.

On admission hemoglobin and albumin, as the two novel factors associated with thrombosis in COVID-19 pneumonia

Introduction: The unrelenting storm of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) since late 2019 has turned into a crucial health matter of the globe. There is increasing evidence in terms of a hypercoagulable state by this infection. Objectives: The current study aims to clarify the association between thromboembolic events in COVID-19 and the patient, the infection and in-hospital related characteristics. Patients and Methods: The current case-control study has been conducted on 243 COVID-19 pneumonia patients including 83 cases with thrombotic events and 160 controls without thrombosis. The thrombotic events included deep venous thrombosis (DVT) (n=9), pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) (n=48), acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (n=17), cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) (n=4) and arterial thrombosis (n=5). On admission, hemodynamic parameters, on admission laboratory assessments, mobility during hospitalization, type of oxygenation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission requirement and duration of ICU and also hospital stay were recorded in the checklist. Results: According to logistic regression assessment, on admission O2 saturation (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.94-0.99), hemoglobin level (OR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.77-0.97) and albumin level (OR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.3-0.86) were independently correlated with thrombosis due to COVID-19. Other factors, including demographic, infection severity, laboratory and in-hospital characteristics, were not significantly associated with thrombotic events. Conclusion: Based on this study’s findings, hemoglobin and albumin levels were the independent factors associated with the thrombotic events in COVID-19 patients.

BIG score is a strong predictor of mortality and morbidity for high-energy traumas in pediatric intensive care unit.

Severe traumatic injuries not only constitute an important population of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) but they also play a major role in mortality and morbidity. Mortality risk assessment of traumatic injuries in the PICU is a delicate issue as it influences the treatment decisions. BIG score (Base Deficit +[2.5 × INR] + [15-GCS]) and the Pediatric Trauma Score (PTS) are utilized in pediatric trauma centers for the assessment of trauma severity. In this research, we aimed to elucidate the predictivity of trauma severity scores, the PRISM-3 (pediatric risk of mortality), and admission laboratory parameters in pediatric patients with high-energy traumas. Children who had been exposed to high-energy polytraumas between 2018 and 2020 and treated in a tertiary care PICU were included in this retrospective analysis. Newly developed mental or motor disabilities, post-traumatic acquired epilepsy, requirement for tracheostomy, and/or extremity loss at PICU discharge were defined as morbidity. The PTS, the BIG score, PRISM-3 score, and admission laboratory parameters were utilized for mortality and morbidity prediction. A total of 155 patients were included in the study. The median age of the participants were 66 months (25-134). The origin of trauma was fall from height in 45.2% (n=70) of the subjects and traffic accident 54.8% (n=85) of the cases. New morbidities had occurred in 8.7% (n=13) and 3.2% (n=5) of the patients deceased in the ICU. The results of logistic regression analysis indicated that BIG score (p=0.01), PTS (p=0.003), PRISM-3 (p=0.02), admission D-dimer (p=0.01), and albumin levels (p=0.001) were significantly associated with mortality. The receiver operating characteristics curve analysis denoted that BIG score (cutoff >21.5, area under the curve [AUC]: 0.984 95% CI: 0.943-0.988), PRISM-3 score (cutoff >18, AUC: 0.997 95% CI: 0.970-1), the PTS (cutoff ≤3, AUC: 0.969 95% CI: 0.928-0.990), admission albumin level (cutoff ≤3 g/dL, AUC: 0.987 95% CI: 0.953-0.998), and D-dimer level (cutoff >13,100 mcg/L, AUC: 0.776 95% CI: 0.689-0.849) all had high predictive values for mortality. Regarding the results of this research, one can conclude that BIG score is a strong predictor of mortality and morbidity in high-energy pediatric traumas. Although PRISM-3 score has a similar predictive capability, the earlier and easier calculation as-sets of BIG score positions itself as a more useful and powerful predictor for mortality and morbidity in pediatric high-energy traumas.

Vitamin D levels in post-acute hip fractured patients and their association with rehabilitation outcomes

Purpose To report on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in post-acute hip fractured patients, revealed the associations between serum 25(OH)D levels and hip fractured patients’ baseline characteristics and rehabilitation outcomes. Materials and Methods A retrospective study (9/2017-9/2020) of 493 hip fractured patients. 25(OH)D levels were recorded following the patient’s baseline characteristics and outcome measures, including the functional independence measure and motor functional independence measure effectiveness. The sample was divided into three groups: deficient (<30 nmol/l), insufficient (30–75 nmol/l) and sufficient (>75 nmol/l) 25(OH)D levels. ANOVA and chi-square test tests compared the groups. Multiple linear analysis assessed the associations between the 25(OH)D and discharge functional independence measure score. Results 25(OH)D deficiency was found in 20.3% of the patients. The only baseline characteristic significantly associated with serum 25(OH)D levels was dementia. The group with deficient levels of 25(OH)D exhibited a significantly higher rate of low education, low admission albumin levels and a reduced handgrip strength compared to the insufficient/sufficient groups. All functional measure scores were significantly lower in the deficient (25(OH)D) group compared with the insufficient/sufficient patient groups. 25(OH)D levels were found to be significantly associated with the discharge functional independence measure score. Conclusions Routine screening for 25(OH)D levels is mandatory in post-acute hip fracture patients as it may affect rehabilitation outcomes. Implications for Rehabilitation 25-hydroxyvitamin D 25(OH)D levels are associated with rehabilitation outcomes in post-acute hip fractured patients. A routine screening for 25(OH)D levels and standardized supplementation protocol during the acute and post-acute rehabilitation setting is recommended as it may improve the quality of care.

Üçüncü Basamak Bir Yoğun Bakım Ünitesinde Bir Yıl Içinde Ölen Hastaların Klinik Özellikleri

Aim: The aim of this study was to find out the clinical characteristics of patients who died within a year in the intensive care unit (ICU) and to find out the association of ICU admission albumin, lactate levels and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores of these patients who died with ICU length of stay.Material and Method: The files of patients who died in the ICU (n:350) between January 2018 and December 2018 were examined retrospectively. The patients’ demographic data and their clinical characteristics, ICU admission types (surgery or medical medicine), the units they were admitted in, reasons for admission, comorbidities, admission albumin and lactate levels, APACHE II scores and ICU length of stay were recorded. The association of patients’ clinical characteristics with ICU length of stay and laboratory values was evaluated. Result: The patients’ mean age was 72.68±12.98 years, mean APACHE II score was 27.0±10.0, mean albumin value was 3.1±0.7 g/dL and mean lactate value was 4.1±3.3 mmol/L. It was found that albumin value was lower in patients admitted to ICU with mechanical ventilator (MV) need (p&amp;lt;0.001), and lactate value and APACHE II score were significantly higher in patients with post-cardiopulmonary resuscitation (p&amp;lt;0.001). Mean ICU length of stay was 28.24 ± 37.53 days. A weak positive correlation (r =0.172, p=0.001) was found between the patients’ length of stay and albumin, and a weak negative correlation was found with the lactat (r = 0.121, p=0.023) and APACHE II scores (r = 0.151, p=0.001). A weak negative correlation was found between the patients’ albumin and lactate (r =0.152, p=0.004), and APACHE II score (r =0.179, p=0.001), as well as a moderate positive correlation between lactate and APACHE II score.Conclusion: Significant association was found between hypoalbuminemia, hyperlactatemia and high APACHE II scores and ICU length of stay in patients who died in ICU. More comprehensive studies are needed to show the effects of this association on effective use of ICUs.

SERUM ALBUMIN LEVELS AND ITS CORRELATION WITH SHORT TERM OUTCOME IN ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE PATIENTS

Aim:The study was undertaken with the aim to establish the denite correlation between serum albumin levels and outcome of ischemic stroke. Methodology: The present observational study was conducted on 100 acute ischemic stroke patients meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria. All patients were investigated for hypoalbuminemia and their stroke severity was assessed by NIHSS score on day 1 and day 7. The relationship between admission albumin levels, NIHSS values and outcome of those patients was ascertained. Results: There was increased prevalence of hypoalbuminemia in AIS patients and there was signicant correlation between NIHSS score on day 1&amp;7, mortality and hypoalbuminemia in AIS patients and there was signicant association between high NIHSS score and mortality in AIS patients. Conclusion: serum albumin is an independent predictor of functional outcome following an acute ischemic stroke and serum albumin level is inversely correlated with severity of stroke at presentation.

Higher albumin levels on admission predict better prognosis in patients with confirmed COVID-19.

BackgroundResearch surrounding COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is rapidly increasing, including the study of biomarkers for predicting outcomes. There is little data examining the correlation between serum albumin levels and COVID-19 disease severity. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether admission albumin levels reliably predict outcomes in COVID-19 patients.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 181 patients from two hospitals who had COVID-19 pneumonia confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and radiologic imaging, who were hospitalized between March and July 2020. We recorded demographics, COVID-19 testing techniques, and day of admission labs. The outcomes recorded included the following: venous thromboembolism (VTE), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), intensive care unit (ICU) admission, discharge with new or higher home oxygen supplementation, readmission within 90 days, in-hospital mortality, and total adverse events. A multivariate modified Poisson regression analysis was then performed to determine significant predictors for increased adverse events in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.ResultsA total of 109 patients (60.2%) had hypoalbuminemia (albumin level < 3.3 g/dL). Patients with higher albumin levels on admission had a 72% decreased risk of developing venous thromboembolism (adjusted relative risk [RR]:0.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]:0.14–0.53, p<0.001) for every 1 g/dL increase of albumin. Moreover, higher albumin levels on admission were associated with a lower risk of developing ARDS (adjusted RR:0.73, 95% CI:0.55–0.98, p = 0.033), admission to the ICU (adjusted RR:0.64, 95% CI:0.45–0.93, p = 0.019), and were less likely to be readmitted within 90 days (adjusted RR:0.37, 95% CI:0.17–0.81, p = 0.012). Furthermore, higher albumin levels were associated with fewer total adverse events (adjusted RR:0.65, 95% CI:0.52–0.80, p<0.001).ConclusionsAdmission serum albumin levels appear to be a predictive biomarker for outcomes in COVID-19 patients. We found that higher albumin levels on admission were associated with significantly fewer adverse outcomes, including less VTE events, ARDS development, ICU admissions, and readmissions within 90 days. Screening patients may lead to early identification of patients at risk for developing in-hospital complications and improve optimization and preventative efforts in this cohort.

Association Between Albumin Level and Mortality Among Cardiac Intensive Care Unit Patients.

To study the effect of hypoalbuminemia on short- and long-term mortality in Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) patients. We reviewed 12,418 unique CICU patients from 2007 to 2018. Hypoalbuminemia was defined as an admission albumin level <3.5 g/dL. Predictors of hospital mortality were identified using multivariable logistic regression. We included 2,680 patients (22%) with a measured admission albumin level. The median age was 68 (39% females). Admission diagnoses included acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, cardiac arrest, and cardiogenic shock. The median albumin level was 3.4 g/dL and 55% of patients had hypoalbuminemia. Hospital mortality occurred in 16%, and patients with hypoalbuminemia had higher hospital mortality (21% vs. 9%, adjusted OR 2.64, 95% CI 2.09-3.34, p < 0.001). Albumin level was inversely associated with hospital mortality (adjusted OR 0.60 per 1 g/dL higher albumin level, 95% CI 0.47-0.75, p <0.001), with a stepwise increase in the hospital mortality at lower albumin levels. Post-discharge mortality was higher in hospital survivors with hypoalbuminemia, and increased as a function of lower albumin levels. Hypoalbuminemia is common in CICU patients and associated with higher short- and long-term mortality. Progressively lower serum albumin was incrementally associated with higher hospital and post-discharge mortality.

Hypoalbuminemia is an Independent Predictor of 30-Day Postoperative Complications Following Surgical Fixation of Ankle Fractures

Category:Basic Sciences/Biologics; Trauma; OtherIntroduction/Purpose:Malnutrition is known to be negatively associated with outcomes after multiple orthopedic procedures. We hypothesized that admission albumin levels, as a maker for malnutrition, would correlate with postoperative outcomes. The purpose of this study is to investigate this relationship following surgery for ankle fracture.Methods:This is a retrospective cohort study of the ACS-NSQIP database. Patients undergoing operative fixation of an ankle fracture were identified. 6,138 patients with albumin available for analysis were identified. Baseline patient information, preoperative serum albumin levels, 30-day postoperative complications, readmission, reoperation, and length of stay data were then collected. Poisson regression with robust error variance was performed to assess the effect of preoperative serum albumin level on postoperative outcomes.Results:6,138 patients with albumin available for analysis were identified in the database. The mean albumin level was 3.86 g/dl and 20.3% of patients with available albumin levels were hypoalbuminemic. Multivariate analysis revealed that albumin level <3.5 g/dl is an independent risk factor for complication (RR 1.42, 95% CI 1.13-1.78, p=0.002) and readmission (RR 1.54, 95% CI 1.13- 2.08, p =0.006). Additionally, when analyzed as a continuous variable, albumin level was negatively correlated with risk of mortality (RR 0.37, 95% CI 0.19-0.72, p=0.003). Patients with hypoalbuminemia also had significantly longer length of stays (4.5 v. 2.1 days, p<0.001).Conclusion:While complication rates after fixation of ankle fractures remain low, hypoalbuminemia is a predictor of postoperative course. Malnutrition, therefore, may help inform the decision between surgical and conservative management of patients with ankle fractures potentially amenable to non-operative management. Additionally, hypoalbuminemia should trigger heightened awareness and prophylactic therapy where appropriate.

Risk of acute respiratory failure among hospitalized patients with various admission serum albumin levels: A cohort study.

Serum albumin is a marker of nutritional and frailty status. This study aimed to assess the association between serum albumin at the time of admission and the risk of acute respiratory failure (ARF) in hospitalized patientsThis cohort study, performed at a tertiary referral hospital, included all hospitalized adult patients from January 2009 to December 2013 who had serum albumin measurement and were not on mechanical ventilation within 24 hours of hospital admission. Serum albumin was stratified into 2.4, 2.5 to 2.9, 3.0 to 3.4, 3.5 to 3.9, 4.0 to 4.4, and ≥4.5 g/dL. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to obtain adjusted odds ratio (OR) of risk of ARF requiring mechanical ventilation based on various admission serum albumin levels.Of 12,719 patients, ARF requiring mechanical ventilation occurred in 1128 (8.9%) during hospitalization. Hypoalbuminemia was associated with increased risk of ARF, in particular when serum albumin was ≤2.4 g/dL. Compared with serum albumin of 4.0-4.4 g/dL, serum albumin ≤2.4 g/dL at admission was associated with 2.38-time higher odds of ARF during hospitalization (OR 2.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.84-3.07). In contrast, elevated serum albumin ≥4.5 g/dL was associated with lower odds of ARF (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.48-0.97).Admission serum albumin level lower than 3.5 g/dL was associated with a higher risk of ARF requiring mechanical ventilation, whereas elevated serum albumin level at least 4.5 g/dL was associated with a lower risk of ARF. Therefore, admission albumin level at admission might be useful in the prediction of ARF during hospitalization.

Role of Hypoalbuminemia as an Independent Predictor of 30-Day Postoperative Complications Following Surgical Fixation of Ankle Fractures

Malnutrition is known to be negatively associated with outcomes after multiple orthopedic procedures. We hypothesized that admission albumin levels, as a marker for malnutrition, would correlate with postoperative outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate this relationship following surgery for ankle fracture. This is a retrospective cohort study of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database. Patients undergoing operative fixation of an ankle fracture were identified. A total of 6138 patients with albumin available for analysis were identified. Baseline patient information, preoperative serum albumin levels, 30-day postoperative complications, readmission, reoperation, and length of stay data were then collected. Poisson regression with robust error variance was performed to assess the effect of preoperative serum albumin level on postoperative outcomes. The mean albumin level was 3.86 g/dL and 20.3% (1246/6138) of patients with available albumin levels were hypoalbuminemic. Multivariate analysis revealed that an albumin level <3.5 g/dL was an independent risk factor for complications (relative risk [RR], 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-1.78; P = .002) and readmission (RR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.13-2.08; P = .006). Additionally, when analyzed as a continuous variable, albumin level was negatively correlated with risk of mortality (RR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.19-0.72; P = .003). Patients with hypoalbuminemia also had significantly longer lengths of stay (4.5 vs 2.1 days; P < .001). While complication rates after fixation of ankle fractures remain low, hypoalbuminemia was a predictor of postoperative course. Malnutrition, therefore, may help inform the decision between surgical and conservative management of patients with ankle fractures potentially amenable to nonoperative management. Additionally, hypoalbuminemia should trigger heightened awareness and prophylactic therapy where appropriate. Level III, comparative study.

Developing and Piloting a Tool to Identify Food Insecurity in Older Adults.

The literature shows that food insecurity (FI) can negatively affect the trajectory of many chronic illnesses. FI can be acutely severe for older adults, but screening for FI is not regularly performed in the hospital setting. Our goal was to develop a tool to screen for FI upon hospital discharge to identify patients who may require community food resources. This is the first attempt to build such a tool for implementation in our health system. In two university hospitals and one community hospital, patients 65 years old and older were admitted to the Internal Medicine service who would approach discharge within 2 days. We screened patients meeting our criteria using an FI tool (FIT), which addressed patterns associated with FI. All of the patients screened were offered a list of community resources. Of the patients recruited, 69 met the study criteria. The majority of patients screened displayed some FI, with 56% having ≥3 food insecurities. Statistically significant relationships were established for individual FIT questions with age, admission albumin level, body mass index, length of stay, and median household income based on ZIP code. Use of the FIT can help identify vulnerable patients and connect them to food resources. The FIT was easy to use, well tolerated, and time-efficient, leaving it poised for use in the busy environment of inpatient services.