Decreased admission serum albumin level is an independent predictor of long-term mortality in hospital survivors of acute myocardial infarction. Soroka Acute Myocardial Infarction II (SAMI-II) project

Evaluation of Hematological and Biochemical Parameters that Predict the No-reflow Phenomenon in Patients Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) is the main treatment strategy to restore myocardial perfusion. However, the no-reflow phenomenon (NRP) may block coronary flow. The present study focused on assessing and contrasting predictive parameters for NRP in ACS patients. Our research is a retrospective analysis. We assessed the parameters significantly associated with NRP using Cox regression and Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) Curve analysis. The study included 5122 patients who met the criteria. The average age of the patients was 63.9 + 13.2, and 74.4% were male. It was observed that NRP developed in 1.8% of all patients. Age, hemoglobin (Hb), white blood cell (WBC), glucose and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were determined to be independent predictors of NRP. The power of these parameters to predict NRP was similar, and WBC was the most predictive (Area Under Curve (AUC): 0.605 95% CI: 0.539-0.671, P = .001). We believe that the use of these simple, practical, and routinely used hematological and biochemical parameters will help us predict the risk of developing NRP before pPCI. This information should improve management.

Prognostic impact of being underweight in patients undergoing mitral TEER: The OCEAN-Mitral registry

AIMS

Mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) is a valid treatment option for severe mitral regurgitation (MR), necessitating accurate risk stratification of M-TEER candidates for effective patient selection, optimal periprocedural care and improved long-term outcomes. The body mass index (BMI) is a simple and practical prognostic index, and the obesity paradox has been widely reported.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Between April 2018 and June 2021, 2149 patients undergoing M-TEER were registered in the prospective multicentre registry and classified into three groups: underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5 ≤ BMI < 25 kg/m2) and overweight and obese (25 kg/m2 ≦ BMI) [Correction added on 17 October 2024, after first online publication: In the preceding sentence, "18.5 ☆ BMI < 25 kg/m2" and "25 kg/m2 ☆ BMI" have been corrected to "18.5 ≤ BMI < 25 kg/m2" and "25 kg/m2  ≦  BMI" in this version.] The impact of underweight on the all-cause, cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality following M-TEER was evaluated [follow-up duration: 436 (363-733) days]. The participants (median BMI: 21.1 kg/m2) were categorized as underweight (n = 450, 20.9%), normal weight (n = 1409, 65.6%) and overweight and obese (n = 290, 13.5%). Compared with the other two groups, the underweight group exhibited several negative prognostic factors, including older age, frailty, no dyslipidaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, residual MR and non-home discharge. Underweight patients had the highest rate of all-cause, cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality, whereas those in the other two groups were similar. As per the multivariate analysis, underweight itself was associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 1.52, 95% confidence interval: 1.17-1.97, P = 0.009) and cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio: 1.45, 95% confidence interval: 1.04-2.01, P = 0.028).

CONCLUSIONS

Underweight patients had the highest mortality rate after M-TEER. Comorbidities, residual MR, discharge disposition and underweight status were correlated with postprocedural outcome.

Development and validation of a prognostic nomogram model for severe osteomyelitis patients

After severe infection in osteomyelitis patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), there's a higher risk of mortality. However, limited research exists on predicting prognosis. Develop a predictive model for 1-year mortality risk in ICU-admitted osteomyelitis patients to inform clinical diagnosis and treatment. MIMIC IV database was used to retrieve ICU data for osteomyelitis patients. The data were randomly split into training and validation sets (7:3 ratio). Univariate and multiple logistic regression identified independent predictors of one-year mortality and constructed a risk prediction nomogram in the training set. Predictive value of the nomogram was assessed using C-indexes, ROC curves, DCA, CIC and calibration curves. This study included a total of 1153 osteomyelitis patients, with 137 deaths within one year. These patients were randomly divided into training (N = 807) and validation (N = 346) sets. In the training set, multiple features were identified as key predictors of one-year mortality in osteomyelitis patients in the ICU. These factors were incorporated into the nomogram model, demonstrating good identification performance, with AUCs of 0.872 and 0.826 for the training and validation sets, respectively. The calibration curve and ROC curve indicate excellent predictive accuracy. DCA suggests strong clinical utility and robust predictive efficiency. Further analysis through CIC illustrates the clinical effectiveness of this predictive model. We have developed a nomogram model to predict the 1-year mortality rate for osteomyelitis patients admitted to the ICU, providing valuable predictive information for clinical decision-making.

Impact of Baseline Hypoalbuminemia on Long-Term Survival Following Acute Myocardial Infarction According to Body Mass Index

Serum albumin and body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) have been associated with outcomes following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Aiming to assess whether the mortality risk inflicted by hypoalbuminemia (<3.5 g/dL) in this context is influenced by BMI, we conducted a retrospective analysis of AMI survivors hospitalized during 2004-2017. Stratified by admission-time albumin level and BMI, eligible cases were evaluated for all-cause mortality up to 10 years after discharge. A total of 6283 individuals (74.1% males, mean age 64.1 ± 13.1 years, 44.3% with ST-elevation MI) were included. Of them, 22.7% had hypoalbuminemia and 1.2%, 41.0%, and 28.6% were underweight (BMI < 18.5), overweight (BMI 25-30), and obese (BMI ≥ 30), respectively. Over a median of 7.9 (IQR, 4.8-10.0) years of follow-up, 42.5% of patients died. Hypoalbuminemia was independently associated with a heightened mortality risk overall (AdjHR = 1.54, 95%CI 1.42-1.67, p < 0.001), accounted for by the normal weight (AdjHR = 1.73, 95%CI 1.50-1.99, p < 0.001), overweight (AdjHR = 1.55, 95%CI 1.35-1.79, p < 0.001), and class 1 obesity (BMI 30-35) (AdjHR = 1.37, 95%CI 1.12-1.68, p = 0.002) subgroups. Upon interaction analysis, the mortality risk imposed by hypoalbuminemia was most pronounced among individuals with normal BMI. In conclusion, hypoalbuminemia constituted a negative prognostic marker for long-term survival in AMI patients with normal or mildly elevated but not reduced or severely increased BMI. Pending further research, addressing hypoalbuminemia based on BMI range may prove beneficial.

Prognostic significance of C-reactive protein-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

In this study, the relationship between C-reactive protein-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index, a novel composite indicator based on inflammation and nutrition, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) was investigated in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included 438 patients with STEMI who were treated at a single center between January 2017 and December 2020. The CALLY index was calculated for each patient on admission. The predictive value of the CALLY index for short- and long-term MACEs was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC) analysis, and the corresponding AUC values were calculated. Clinical characteristics were analyzed after categorizing the population based on the optimal cut-off value of the CALLY index. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to determine factors independently associated with MACEs, while logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors independently associated with the severity of coronary artery lesions. Kaplan-Meier estimation and log-rank test were used to assess event-free survival rates among different CALLY index groups. Additionally, Spearman's correlation test was used to determine the association between the CALLY index and the Gensini score.

RESULTS

The AUC for predicting short-term MACEs in STEMI patients using the CALLY index was 0.758, while the AUC for predicting long-term MACEs was 0.740. Similarly, the AUC values were 0.815 and 0.819, respectively, when evaluating the short- and long-term mortality rates using the CALLY index. Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that a high CALLY index (threshold of 1.50) independently reduced the risk of short-term MACEs in patients with STEMI (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.274, 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 0.121-0.621, P=0.002). Multivariable Cox regression also demonstrated that a high CALLY index (threshold > 0.91) independently reduced the occurrence of long-term MACEs during follow-up in STEMI patients (HR=0.439, 95 % CI=0.292-0.659, P<0.001). Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a high CALLY index (threshold > 1.13) independently reduced the risk of severe coronary artery lesions in patients with STEMI (odds ratio = 0.299 [95 % CI=184-0.485], P<0.001). A positive correlation was observed between the CALLY index and the Gensini score (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The CALLY index is a novel, convenient, and valuable prognostic indicator exhibiting a protective effect against both short- and long-term MACEs in patients with STEMI, emphasizing the significance of inflammation/nutrition in this patient population.

Serum calcium-magnesium ratio at admission predicts adverse outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome

BACKGROUND

Evidence from observational studies suggests that increased calcium exposure may elevate the risk of adverse events in patients with coronary artery disease, while magnesium may exert a protective effect on disease risk. However, there have been limited investigations into the relationship between these minerals and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Therefore, this study aimed to explore the association between the Serum calcium-magnesium ratio (Ca/Mg ratio) in patients with acute coronary syndrome and their clinical outcomes.

METHODS

This retrospective analysis reviewed the clinical data of 1,775 patients with ACS who underwent coronary angiography and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at the Fujian Heart Center between May 2017 and December 2022. The patients were categorized into four groups based on their Ca/Mg ratio at admission (Group 1, ≤2.373, n = 443; Group 2, 2.374-2.517, n = 442; Group 3, 2.518-2.675, n = 446; Group 4, ≥2.676, n = 444). Single-factor analysis and multivariate logistic regression were employed to analyze the clinical characteristics and postoperative clinical outcomes of patients in different groups. The primary outcome included major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), while the secondary outcomes included contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN)、all-cause rehospitalization raten and hematorrhea.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis showed that the patients had a mean age of 64.50±10.79 years, with 370 female patients (20.8%). Additionally, 1,158 patients had hypertension (65.2%), and 710 patients had diabetes (40.5%). Univariate analysis showed an inverse relationship between the serum calcium-to-magnesium ratio and all-cause in-hospital mortality, with patients in the lowest quartile having the highest mortality rate. Multivariate analysis showed that the Ca/Mg ratio at admission was independently associated with MACCEs. Among them, this ratio was inversely associated with all-cause mortality [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.07; 95% CI 0.01-0.63; P<0.05] and positively associated with new-onset atrial fibrillation (aOR 1.86; 95% CI 1.08-3.21; P<0.05). Additionally, the Ca/Mg ratio was positively correlated with an increased risk of postoperative major bleeding (aOR 6.58; 95% CI 1.43-30.29; P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

In this large retrospective study, serum calcium and magnesium levels at admission were significantly associated with adverse outcomes in patients with ACS. The Ca/Mg ratio was identified as a reliable predictor of poor prognosis in ACS patients.

Association between serum albumin and pulmonary function in adolescents: analyses of NHANES 2007-2012

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are an important tool for assessing pulmonary diseases, although clinicians often find it challenging to accurately evaluate the pulmonary function of children.

METHODS

We intend to investigate the association between serum albumin (SA) and lung function among U.S. adolescents. This cross-sectional study included 3,072 adolescents (aged 12 to 19) from 2007 to 2012National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). PFTs, including forced vital capacity (FVC)%predicted, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)%predicted, FEV1/FVC%predicted, and maximum mid-expiratory flow (FEF25-75) % predicted, were utilized to assess the association between serum albumin levels and lung function. To explore the potential associations between SA and pulmonary function, we employed multivariate linear regression, subgroup analysis, smoothing curve fitting and threshold effect.

RESULTS

A positive correlation was observed between serum albumin levels and pulmonary function. In the model with a fully adjusted, each 1 g/dL serum albumin increase in SA corresponded to an increase of 2.69% in FVC%pred, 5.8% in FEV1%pred, 10.99% in FEF25-75%pred and 2.98% in FEV1/FVC%pred. This association between SA and FEV1%pred differed across gender subgroups. A non-linear relationship was observed between SA and FEV1/FVC%pred.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrated a positive correlation between SA and lung function, suggesting a novel modality for evaluating pulmonary function, specifically in children.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

Not applicable.

Relationship between serum albumin level and hospitalization duration following percutaneous coronary intervention for acute coronary syndrome

Low serum albumin levels increase coronary morbidity, mortality, and postoperative cardiovascular risk. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between these levels and the length of hospital stay in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndrome. A total of 350 patients were divided into quartiles according to serum albumin levels. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with the length of hospital stay. A non-linear regression analysis of serum albumin and length of hospital stay was also performed. The results of the multifactorial analysis revealed low serum albumin levels as an independent predictor of longer hospital stay, even in the fully adjusted model. In the segmented linear regression model, serum albumin level showed a U-shaped relationship with the length of hospital stay. In conclusion, low serum albumin level was an independent predictor of longer hospital stay in patients undergoing PCI for acute coronary syndrome, with shorter stays observed for increasing serum albumin levels. Low serum albumin can be used to identify patients who require longer hospitalization and may need additional nutritional support or interventions to improve their prognosis.

Clinical features and in-hospital mortality predictors of concurrent cardio-cerebral infarction: insights from a dual-center retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to enhance the understanding of cardio-cerebral infarction (CCI) clinical features and identify key prognostic factors, thereby providing an empirical foundation for advancing prevention and treatment strategies and ultimately improving clinical outcomes for CCI patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 17,645 AIS and 7,584 AMI patients admitted to two hospitals from 2014 to 2023. Univariate analysis, Spearman correlation, and multivariate logistic regression were performed to identify independent risk factors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine optimal cutoff values.

RESULTS

This study enrolled 85 patients with CCI, representing an overall CCI incidence of approximately 0.34%. Males comprised 64.71% of the cohort. ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and cardiogenic cerebral infarction were the most predominant subtypes. The in-hospital mortality rate was 30.59%, with 65.38% of deaths attributed to cardiac causes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified three independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality: elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), decreased serum albumin, and increased peak N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels (NT-proBNP). ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the area under the curve (AUC) for the NLR, albumin concentration and peak NT-proBNP concentration were 0.863, 0.723, and 0.824, respectively. The optimal cutoff values were 6.914 for NLR, 33.80 g/L for albumin, and 9474.50 pg/mL for peak NT-proBNP. The AUC of the combined diagnostic model reached 0.959, significantly outperforming the individual indicators.

CONCLUSION

Elevated NLR, decreased serum albumin, and increased peak NT-proBNP levels independently predict in-hospital mortality in CCI patients. Combining these biomarkers enhances predictive capability for adverse outcomes.

Association Between Postoperative Decrease of Albumin and Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Craniotomy for Brain Tumors

BACKGROUND

Serum albumin reflects nutritional status and is associated with postoperative complications and mortality. Delta albumin (ΔAlb), defined as the difference between preoperative and lowest postoperative levels, could predict complications and mortality, even with postoperative levels above 30 g/L prompting albumin infusions. This study aimed to assess how ΔAlb relates to outcomes in craniotomy patients with brain tumors.

METHODS

This retrospective study screened patients diagnosed with a brain tumor who underwent cerebral surgery from a single Chinese hospital between December 2010 and April 2021. Patients were divided into 4 groups based on their ΔAlb levels: <5 g/L (normal), 5-9.9 g/L (mild ΔAlb), 10-14.9 g/L (moderate ΔAlb), and ≥15 g/L (severe ΔAlb). The primary outcome was postoperative 30-day mortality.

RESULTS

Among the 9660 patients undergoing craniotomy for brain tumors, the median ΔAlb level after craniotomy was 7.3 g/L. ΔAlb was associated with increased postoperative 30-day mortality; odds ratios for mild, moderate, and severe ΔAlb were 1.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-3.18, P = 0.01), 2.21 (95% CI, 1.28-3.79, P = 0.004), and 7.26 (95% CI, 4.19-12.58, P < 0.01), respectively. Significantly, ΔAlb >5 g/L was found to have a strong association with a higher risk of mortality, even when the nadir Alb remained greater than 30 g/L (odds ratio, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.13-3.00, P = 0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients undergoing craniotomy for brain tumor resection, a mild degree of ΔAlb was associated with increased 30-day mortality, even if the nadir Alb remained greater than 30 g/L. Moreover, ΔAlb was associated with postoperative complications and longer lengths of stay.

Association between C-reactive protein/albumin ratio and all-cause mortality in patients with stroke: Evidence from NHANES cohort study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The inflammatory nutritional status is widely associated with the long-term prognosis of non-fatal stroke. The objective of this study is to examine the correlation between the C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR), a new marker indicating both inflammatory and nutritional status, and the overall mortality rate among stroke patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database and corresponding public-use mortality data from the linked National Death Index (NDI). The study utilized maximally selected rank statistics to determine the optimal cutoff points for the CAR. Subsequently, participants were stratified into higher- and lower-CAR groups based on these cutoff points. The Kaplan-Meier survival method was used to study overall survival probability. Multivariable Cox proportional regression models were employed to calculate the Hazard Ratio (HR) and corresponding confidence interval (CI). Restricted cubic spline (RCS) model was applied to detect potential non-linear relationship between CAR and mortality risk. Furthermore, stratified and sensitive analyses were performed to examine the robustness and reliability of the results. The study, encompassing 1043 participants with an average age of 64.61 years, identified a cutoff value of 0.32 for CAR, with notable variances observed across gender and age cohorts. Over an average follow-up period of 116 months, 679 instances of all-cause mortality were documented. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis unveiled noteworthy disparities in survival probabilities between groups categorized by high and low CAR levels (p = 0.00081). Continuous CAR analysis consistently demonstrated a positive correlation between elevated CAR values and heightened risk (HR = 1.78 (1.36, 2.33)) of all-cause mortality among stroke patients. Similarly, individuals in the high CAR group exhibited adjusted HR of 1.34 (0.96, 1.89) for all-cause mortality compared to their low CAR counterparts. Subgroup and sensitive analysis consistently reinforced these findings. Smoothing curve fitting further validated CAR's significance as a prognostic indicator of all-cause mortality, indicating a linear relationship.

CONCLUSION

Elevated CAR is associated with increased long-term risk of mortality for individuals who have experienced a stroke, suggesting that CAR could serve as a survival indicator.

The associations between the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index and all-cause, cancer-specific, and cardiovascular mortality in the U.S. population: a large-scale pooled survey

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have reported a close association between the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and various conditions. However, the association between the GNRI and mortality remains unclear. To examine the correlation between the GNRI and all-cause, cancer-specific, and cardiovascular mortality, this study was performed.

METHODS

We analyzed elderly participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2005 to 2016. The GNRI was calculated using body mass index and serum albumin. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were drawn to compare the survival probability between the normal and decreased GNRI groups. Weighted multivariate Cox regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were employed to determine the linear and non-linear associations of the GNRI with all-cause, cancer-specific, and cardiovascular mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 3,276 participants were included in the analysis. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that the decreased GNRI group had a lower survival probability for all-cause mortality and cancer-specific mortality (P < 0.001) but not for cardiovascular mortality (P > 0.05). In the full regression models, the decreased group had a higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.21-2.30, P = 0.002), and cancer-specific mortality (HR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.32-3.67, P = 0.003) than the normal group. For cardiovascular mortality, no significant association with GNRI (HR = 1.39, 95% CI = 0.60-3.22, P = 0.436) was detected. Notably, the RCS analysis identified a linear downward trend between the GNRI and all-cause, alongside cancer-specific mortalities (all P for overall < 0.05). The time-dependent Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis unveiled the predictive power of the GNRI for 5-year all-cause mortality, cancer mortality, and cardiovascular mortality was 0.754, 0.757, and 0.836, respectively, after adjusting for covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with a decreased GNRI had increased risks of all-cause, and cancer-specific mortality. There were linear associations of the GNRI with all-cause, and cancer-specific mortality. Nutritional status should be carefully monitored, which may improve the overall prognosis for the general population.

Vitamin D and Albumin Deficiency in a Swiss Orthopaedic Surgery In-Patient Cohort

Background: Vitamin D and protein deficiencies are common conditions in the general population. In Orthopaedic surgery, they can result in wound complications or poor bone healing. The goal of this study was, therefore, to determine the prevalence of vitamin D and albumin deficiencies in patients scheduled for elective Orthopaedic procedures. Methods: We performed an observational, noninterventional study using the demographic characteristics via means chart analysis of in-patients with an elective surgery in a single Swiss Orthopaedic centre. The following variables were collected and analysed: age, gender, BMI, ASA score, rate of vitamin D supplementation before surgery, and serum preoperative levels of vitamin D, albumin, Haemoglobin, calcium, and phosphate. Results: A total of 336 patients were analysed; there were 218 women (64.9%) and 118 men (35.1%). The average age was 59.4 years (17-89 years). The average BMI was 26.8 kg/m2 (17.8-37.6) and the average ASA score was II (I-III). The overall prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 82.1%, being more common in the male (89.8%) than female patients (77.9%). Patients who received vitamin D supplements before surgery had an average vitamin D level in the normal range. Of the subgroup of 170 patients who were over 60 years of age, 78.8% of the patients were Vitamin D deficient, with deficiency once again being more common in men (93.3%) than in women (92%). Albumin deficiency was documented in 58.9% of the cases. A total of 62.8% of all the female patients were albumin deficient, and 51.7% of all male patients were. Of the subgroup of 170 patients who were over 60 years of age, 71.8% of the patients were albumin deficient, with the deficiency being practically identical in men (71.1%) and women (72%). Conclusions: Despite increased awareness in the medical community, vitamin D and albumin deficiencies remain highly prevalent in elective Orthopaedic patients. Pre/perioperative screening and addressing possible vitamin D and albumin deficiencies are of great importance for good outcomes in Orthopaedic surgery.

Combined Serum Albumin and Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Predict All-Cause Death in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease

Objective

To explore the feasibility of serum albumin (Alb) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in predicting all-cause death (ACD) in patients with stable coronary artery disease (SCAD).

Methods

Patients with SCAD were divided into 4 groups according to their Alb and LVEF levels: Group A: Alb ≤4 g/dL and LVEF > 50%; Group B: Alb ≤4 g/dL and LVEF ≤50%; Group C: Alb >4 g/dL and LVEF ≤50%; Group D: Alb >4 g/dL and LVEF >50%. The K-M curve and log-rank test were used to compare ACD among the four groups over three years. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to compare the efficacy of predicting ACD among the combination of Alb and LVEF and either Alb or LVEF alone. Cox regression analysis identified the influencing factors of ACD in patients with SCAD and detected the correlation between Alb and LVEF.

Results

ACD occurred in 18 (8.9%) of 203 patients with SCAD, with an average follow-up of 26.53 ± 14.34 months. In the Kaplan‒Meier analysis, the risk of ACD in the four groups ranged from high to low: Group B (17.6%) > Group A (26.7%) > Group D (0.9%) > Group C (0%, P < 0.001). The ROC curve showed that the combination of Alb and LVEF (AUC = 0.888) had better predictive value for ACD than either Alb (AUC = 0.879) or LVEF alone (AUC = 0.651), P < 0.001. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that Alb ≤4 g/dL predicted ACD events after adjusting for baseline (HR: 12.16, 95% CI: 1.57 to 94.41; P=0.017) and treatment (HR: 19.36, 95% CI: 2.53-147.78, P=0.004). Alb was positively correlated with LVEF (r = 0.22, P=0.002).

Conclusions

Alb combined with LVEF is more effective than a single index in predicting ACD in SCAD and could be used as a new model to judge the prognosis of SCAD.

Albumin Levels and Risk of Early Cardiovascular Complications After Ischemic Stroke: A Propensity-Matched Analysis of a Global Federated Health Network

BACKGROUND

No studies have investigated the association between albumin levels and the risk of early cardiovascular complications in patients with ischemic stroke.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis with a federated research network (TriNetX) based on electronic medical records (International Classification of Diseases-Tenth Revision-Clinical Modification and logical observation identifiers names and codes) mainly reported between 2000 and 2023, from 80 health care organizations in the United States. Based on albumin levels measured at admission to the hospital, patients with ischemic stroke were categorized into 2 groups: (1) reduced (≤3.4 g/dL) and (2) normal (≥3.5 g/dL) albumin levels. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause death, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy 30 days from the stroke. Secondary outcomes were the risk for each component of the primary outcome. Cox regression analyses were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs following propensity score matching.

RESULTS

Overall, 320 111 patients with stroke had normal albumin levels (70.9±14.7 years; 48.9% females) and 183 729 (57.4%) had reduced albumin levels (72.9±14.3 years; 50.3% females). After propensity score matching, the primary outcomes occurred in 36.0% of patients with reduced and 26.1% with normal albumin levels (HR, 1.48 [95% CI, 1.46-1.50]). The higher risk in patients with reduced albumin levels was consistent also for all-cause death (HR, 2.77 [95% CI, 2.70-2.84]), heart failure (HR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.29-1.34]), atrial fibrillation (HR, 1.11 [95% CI, 1.09-1.13]), ventricular arrhythmias (HR, 1.38 [95% CI, 1.30-1.46]), myocardial infarction (HR, 1.60 [95% CI, 1.54-1.65]), and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (HR, 1.51 [95% CI, 1.26-1.82]). The association between albumin levels and the risk of cardiovascular events was independent of advanced age, sex, multimorbidity, and other causes of hypoalbuminemia. A progressively increased risk of adverse events was found in patients with mild and severe reduced compared to normal albumin levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Albumin levels are associated with the risk of early cardiovascular events and death in patients with ischemic stroke. The potential pathophysiological or therapeutic roles of albumin in patients with stroke warrant further investigation.

The prognostic importance of the Naples prognostic score for in-hospital mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

The Naples prognostic score (NPS) is an effective inflammatory and nutritional scoring system widely applied as a prognostic factor in various cancers. However, the prognostic significance of NPS is unknown in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We aimed to analyze the prognostic value of the NPS in-hospital mortality in patients with STEMI.

METHODS

The study consisted of 3828 patients diagnosed with STEMI who underwent primer percutaneous coronary intervention. As the primary outcome, in-hospital mortality was defined as all-cause deaths during hospitalization. The included patients were categorized into three groups based on NPS (group 1:NPS = 0,1,2; group 2:NPS = 3; group 3:NPS = 4).

RESULTS

Increased NPS was associated with higher in-hospital mortality rates( P  < 0.001). In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, the relationship between NPS and in-hospital mortality continued after adjustment for age, male sex, diabetes, hypertension, Killip score, SBP, heart rate, left ventricular ejection fraction, myocardial infarction type and postprocedural no-reflow. A strong positive association was found between in-hospital mortality and NPS by multivariable logistic regression analysis [NPS 0-1-2 as a reference, OR = 1.73 (95% CI, 1.04-2.90) for NPS 3, OR = 2.83 (95% CI, 1.76-4.54) for NPS 4].

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrates that the NPS could independently predict in-hospital mortality in STEMI. Prospective studies will be necessary to confirm the performance, clinical applicability and practicality of the NPS for in-hospital mortality in STEMI.

Prognostic Value of Fibrinogen-to-Albumin Ratio in Coronary Three-Vessel Disease

Objective

To investigate the prognostic value of fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) in the adverse outcomes of patients with coronary three-vessel disease (TVD).

Methods

A total of 4061 patients with TVD between 2013 and 2018 were analyzed in this retrospective cohort study. The best cut‑off value of the FAR determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was 0.084. 2782 (68.5%) patients were in the low FAR group (FAR < 0.084) and 1279 (31.5%) patients were in the high FAR group (FAR ≥ 0.084), respectively. Three multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were applied to determine the associations of FAR with clinical outcomes. The concordance index (C-index), net reclassification index (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were used to assess the incremental predictive value of the FAR and baseline models with respect to the additive effects of the established traditional risk factors on the discrimination of clinical outcomes. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. The secondary endpoint was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs).

Results

The median follow-up duration was 2.4 years (range 1.1-4.1 years). Multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that the incidence of all-cause mortality (4.7% vs 2.2%, adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-2.52, p=0.011) and MACCE (34.6% vs 27.3%, HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.13-1.46, p<0.001) were significantly higher in the high FAR group compared to the low FAR group. The C-index was 0.72 (p < 0.001), the value of NRI was 0.3778 (p < 0.001), and the value of IDI was 0.0098 (p < 0.001) for those with FAR. After FAR was added to the traditional model, the discrimination and risk reclassification ability can be significantly improved for all-cause mortality. The similar results were found for MACCE.

Conclusion

Higher level of FAR was associated with all-cause mortality and MACCE among patients with TVD. FAR could help to improve the prognostic performance of the traditional risk factors for TVD patients.

Outcomes of Octogenarians and Nonagenarians in a Contemporary Cardiac Care Unit - Insights From 2,242 Patients Admitted Between 2019 and 2021

Background: The number of octo- and nonagenarians admitted to cardiac care units (CCUs) has been increasing in the context of an aging society; however, clinical details and outcomes for these patients are scarce. Methods and Results: Data from 2,242 consecutive patients admitted to the CCU between 2019 and 2021 (age <80 years, 1,390 [62%]; octogenarians, 655 [29%]; nonagenarians, 197 [8.7%]) were reviewed using the in-hospital database for the Tokyo CCU Network. The primary cause of admission was acute coronary syndrome in younger patients and octogenarians (58% and 49%, respectively) and acute heart failure (AHF) in nonagenarians (42%). The proportions of females, underweight, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, stroke, previous heart failure, anemia, and malnutrition were higher among octo- and nonagenarians than among younger patients. In-hospital and 1-year mortality rates were greater in octo- and nonagenarians (younger vs. octogenarian vs. nonagenarian, 2.0% vs. 3.8% vs. 5.6% and 4.1% vs. 11.9% vs. 19.0%, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that 1-year mortality was associated with octo-/nonagenarian status (odds ratio [OR] 2.24 and 2.64), AHF (OR 2.88), body mass index (OR per 1-kg/m2 0.91), and albumin concentration (OR per 1-g/dL 0.27). Conclusions: Approximately 40% of patients admitted to the CCU were octo- or nonagenarians, and being an octo- or nonagenarian, having AHF, a lower body mass index, and lower albumin concentrations were associated with 1-year mortality after CCU admission.

Association between alkaline phosphatase/albumin ratio and the prognosis in patients with chronic kidney disease stages 1-4: results from a C-STRIDE prospective cohort study

Background

The alkaline phosphatase-to-albumin ratio (APAR) has been demonstrated to be a promising non-invasive biomarker for predicting prognosis in certain diseases. However, the relationship between APAR and prognosis in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients remains unclear. This study aims to identify the association between APAR and prognosis among CKD stages 1-4 in China.

Methods

Patients with CKD stages 1-4 were consecutively recruited from 39 clinical centers in China from 2011 to 2016. New occurrences of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, and all-cause deaths were the outcome events of this study. Subdistribution hazard competing risk and Cox proportional hazards regression models were adopted.

Results

A total of 2,180 participants with baseline APAR values were included in the analysis. In the primary adjusted analyses, higher APAR level [per 1-standard deviation (SD) increase in natural logarithm transformed (ln-transformed) APAR] was associated with 33.5% higher risk for all-cause deaths [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.335, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.068-1.670]. In addition, there was evidence for effect modification of the association between APAR and ESKD by baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (P interaction < 0.001). A higher APAR level (per 1-SD increase in ln-transformed APAR) was associated with a greater risk of ESKD among participants with eGFR ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 (adjusted SHR 1.880, 95% CI 1.260-2.810) but not in eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2.

Conclusion

Higher APAR levels in patients with CKD stages 1-4 seemed to be associated with an increased risk of all-cause death. Thus, APAR appears to be used in risk assessment for all-cause death among patients with CKD stages 1-4.

The prognostic nutritional index predicts all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition is common in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and is associated with a poor prognosis. The prognostic value of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in patients with AMI remains controversial. We aimed to explore the relationship between PNI and all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with AMI and evaluate the incremental prognostic value of PNI to commonly used prognostic assessment tools.

METHODS

The Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) database was used to conduct a retrospective cohort analysis on 1180 critically ill patients with AMI. The primary endpoints were defined as 6-month and 1-year all-cause mortality. Cox regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between admission PNI and all-cause mortality. The effect of adding PNI to sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, or charlson comorbidity index (CCI) on its discriminative ability was assessed using C-statistic, net reclassification improvement (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI).

RESULTS

Multivariate cox regression analysis demonstrated that the low PNI was regarded as an independent predictor of 1-year all-cause mortality in AMI patients admitted to ICU (adjusted Hazard Ratio: 95% CI = 1.75 (1.22-2.49)). The ROC test showed that admission PNI had a moderate predictive ability to predict all-cause mortality of critically ill patients with AMI. Furthermore, the net reclassification and integrated discrimination of the CCI alone model improved significantly with PNI. [C-statistic increased from 0.669 to 0.752, p < 0.001; NRI = 0.698, p < 0.001; IDI = 0.073, p < 0.001]. When PNI was added to the SOFA score, the C-statistic significantly improved from 0.770 to 0.805 (p < 0.001), and the NRI and IDI were estimated at 0.573 (p < 0.001) and 0.041 (p < 0.001), respectively.

CONCLUSION

PNI could be a novel predictor for identifying patients at high risk of 1-year all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with AMI. The addition of PNI to the SOFA score or CCI may be useful for very early risk stratification.

Association between serum albumin-to-creatinine ratio and clinical outcomes among patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction after percutaneous coronary intervention: a secondary analysis based on Dryad databases

Background

The prognostic value of the serum albumin-to-creatinine ratio (sACR) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the impact of the sACR on incident major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) among revascularized patients with STEMI at long-term follow-up.

Methods

A total of 461 patients with STEMI who underwent successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were enrolled to explore the association between the sACR and MACE during a 30-month follow-up. The Cox regression proportional hazard model was used to evaluate the prognostic value of the sACR. Heterogeneity among specific groups was investigated by subgroup analysis.

Results

A total of 118 patients developed MACE during the follow-up. A negative association between the sACR and MACE was found after adjusting for other MACE-related risk factors. In subgroup analyses, the sACR was inversely associated with MACE in patients aged ≥ 60 years [hazard ratio (HR), 0.478; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.292-0.784], male (HR, 0.528; 95% CI, 0.327-0.851), with hypertension history (HR, 0.470; 95% CI, 0.271-0.816), and with anterior wall myocardial infarction (HR, 0.418; 95% CI, 0.239-0.730). Meanwhile, the negative association between the sACR and MACE remained significant in a sensitivity analysis that excluded patients with low serum albumin levels (HR, 0.553; 95% CI, 0.356-0.860).

Conclusions

Patients with STEMI who underwent successful PCI with a low sACR had a higher risk of developing MACE, indicating that the sACR could be used to identify patients with STEMI who are at high risk of developing MACE.

Does Albumin Predict the Risk of Mortality in Patients with Cardiogenic Shock?

This study investigates the prognostic impact of albumin levels in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS). Intensive care unit (ICU) related mortality in CS patients remains unacceptably high despite improvement concerning the treatment of CS patients. Limited data regarding the prognostic value of albumin in patients with CS is available. All consecutive patients with CS from 2019 to 2021 were included at one institution. Laboratory values were retrieved from the day of disease onset (day 1) and days 2, 3, 4, and 8 thereafter. The prognostic impact of albumin was tested for 30-day all-cause mortality. Moreover, the prognostic performance of albumin decline during ICU treatment was examined. Statistical analyses included univariable t-test, Spearman's correlation, Kaplan-Meier analyses, multivariable mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA), C-Statistics, and Cox proportional regression analyses. In total, 230 CS patients were included, with an overall all-cause mortality at 30 days of 54%. The median albumin on day 1 was 30.0 g/L. Albumin on day 1 was able to discriminate between 30-day survivors and non-survivors (area under the curve (AUC) 0.607; 0.535-0.680; p = 0.005). CS patients with albumin < 30.0 g/L were associated with an increased risk of 30-day all-cause mortality (63% vs. 46%; log-rank p = 0.016; HR = 1.517; 95% CI 1.063-2.164; p = 0.021), which was demonstrated even after multivariable adjustment. Moreover, a decrease of albumin levels by ≥20% from day 1 to day 3 was accompanied by a higher risk of 30-days all-cause mortality (56% vs. 39%; log-rank p = 0.036; HR = 1.645; 95% CI 1.014-2.669; p = 0.044). Especially when combined with lactate, creatinine, and cardiac troponin I, reliable discrimination of 30-day all-cause mortality was observed, including albumin in CS risk stratification models (AUC = 0.745; 95% CI 0.677-0.814; p = 0.001). In conclusion, low baseline albumin levels as well as a decay of albumin levels during the course of ICU treatment, deteriorate prognostic outcomes in CS patients. The additional assessment of albumin levels may further improve risk stratification in CS patients.

Prognostic value of fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio combined with coronary calcification score in patients with suspected coronary artery disease

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this work was to evaluate the predictive value of FAR combined with CACS for MACCEs.

BACKGROUND

The fibrinogen-albumin-ratio (FAR), a novel biomarker of inflammation, is associated with the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). Coronary calcification score (CACS) is associated with the severity of coronary stenosis and is closely related to the prognosis of CAD patients. What is the prognostic value of FAR in patients with chest pain, which has not been reported. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between CACS and FAR and their impact on prognosis in patients with suspected CAD.

METHODS

We used information from 12,904 individuals who had coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) for chest pain and tracked down any significant adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs). The following formula was used to calculate FAR: fibrinogen (g/L)/albumin (g/L). Patients were separated into groups with greater levels of FAR (FAR-H) and lower levels of FAR (FAR-L) in accordance with the ideal cut-off value of FAR for MACCEs prediction. In addition, patients were divided into three groups based on their CACS scores (CACS ≤ 100, 100 < CACS ≤ 400, and CACS > 400).

RESULTS

4946 patients [62(55-71) years, 64.4% male] were ultimately enrolled in the present study. During follow-up, a total of 234 cases (4.7%) of MACCEs were documented. Linear regression analysis results showed that CACS (R2 = 0.004, Standard β = 0.066, P < 0.001) was positively associated with FAR in patients with chest pain.Compared to ones with FAR-L, FAR-H had an increased risk for MACCEs (adjusted HR 1.371(1.053-1.786) P = 0.019). Multivariate Cox regression showed that age (adjusted HR 1.015 95% CI 1.001-1.028;p = 0.03), FAR (adjusted HR 1.355 95% CI 1.042-1.763;p = 0.023),FBG (adjusted HR 1.043 95% CI 1.006-1.083;p = 0.024) and CACS (adjusted HR 1.470 95% CI 1.250-1.727;p < 0.001) were the independent risk factors for MACCEs. The FAR and CACS significantly improved MACCEs risk stratification, contributing to substantial net reclassification improvement ( NRI 0.122, 95% CI 0.054-0.198, P < 0.001) and integrated discrimination improvement(IDI 0.011, 95% CI 0.006-0.017, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

FAR was an independent risk factor for MACCEs. The results showed that CACS was positively associated with FAR in patients with suspected CAD. A higher level of FAR and heavier coronary calcification burden was associated with worse outcomes among patients with suspected CAD. FAR and CACS improved the risk identification of patients with suspected CAD, leading to a significant reclassification of MACCEs.

Fibrinogen reflects severity and predicts outcomes in patients with sepsis and septic shock

The study investigates the diagnostic and prognostic value of fibrinogen and the albumin-to-fibrinogen-ratio (AFR) in patients with sepsis and septic shock. Limited data regarding the prognostic value of fibrinogen and AFR during the course of sepsis or septic shock are available. Consecutive patients with sepsis and septic shock from 2019 to 2021 were included monocentrically. Blood samples were retrieved from the day of disease onset (day 1), as well as on day 2 and 3. Firstly, the diagnostic value of fibrinogen and the AFR for the diagnosis of a septic shock was tested. Secondly, the prognostic value of fibrinogen and AFR was tested with regard to the 30-day all-cause mortality. Statistical analyses included univariable t-tests, Spearman's correlations, C-statistics, Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox regression analyses. Ninety-one patients with sepsis and septic shock were included. With an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.653-0.801, fibrinogen discriminated patients with septic shock from those with sepsis. In the septic shock group, fibrinogen levels were shown to decrease from day 1 to 3 (median decrease 41%). In line, fibrinogen was a reliable predictor for 30-day all-cause mortality (AUC 0.661-0.744), whereas fibrinogen levels less than 3.6 g/l were associated with an increased risk of 30-day all-cause mortality (78 vs. 53%; log rank P  = 0.004; hazard ratio = 2.073; 95% confidence interval 1.233-3.486; P  = 0.006), which was still observed after multivariable adjustment. In contrast, the AFR was no longer associated with the risk of mortality after multivariable adjustment. Fibrinogen was a reliable diagnostic and prognostic tool for the diagnosis of septic shock as well as for 30-day all-cause mortality and superior compared with the AFR in patients admitted with sepsis or septic shock.

A novel model for predicting prolonged stay of patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus: a 13-year (2010-2022) multicenter retrospective case-control study

BACKGROUND

Length of stay (LOS) is an important metric for evaluating the management of inpatients. This study aimed to explore the factors impacting the LOS of inpatients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and develop a predictive model for the early identification of inpatients with prolonged LOS.

METHODS

A 13-year multicenter retrospective study was conducted on 83,776 patients with T2DM to develop and validate a clinical predictive tool for prolonged LOS. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression model and multivariable logistic regression analysis were adopted to build the risk model for prolonged LOS, and a nomogram was taken to visualize the model. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis and clinical impact curves were used to respectively validate the discrimination, calibration, and clinical applicability of the model.

RESULTS

The result showed that age, cerebral infarction, antihypertensive drug use, antiplatelet and anticoagulant use, past surgical history, past medical history, smoking, drinking, and neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio were closely related to the prolonged LOS. Area under the curve values of the nomogram in the training, internal validation, external validation set 1, and external validation set 2 were 0.803 (95% CI [confidence interval] 0.799-0.808), 0.794 (95% CI 0.788-0.800), 0.754 (95% CI 0.739-0.770), and 0.743 (95% CI 0.722-0.763), respectively. The calibration curves indicated that the nomogram had a strong calibration. Besides, decision curve analysis, and clinical impact curves exhibited that the nomogram had favorable clinical practical value. Besides, an online interface ( https://cytjt007.shinyapps.io/prolonged_los/ ) was developed to provide convenient access for users.

CONCLUSION

In sum, the proposed model could predict the possible prolonged LOS of inpatients with T2DM and help the clinicians to improve efficiency in bed management.

A novel inflammatory biomarker, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio, is associated with 5-year outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND

Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) combined with diabetes have a higher risk of cardiovascular events, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)-to-albumin ratio (CAR) is a novel inflammatory biomarker. However, whether the CAR can identify high-risk patients with CAD and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) remains unclear.

METHODS

The present study was based on a prospective and observational cohort with 10,724 individuals who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in Fu Wai Hospital throughout the year 2013 consecutively enrolled. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. The secondary endpoint was cardiac mortality. CAR was calculated with the formula: hs-CRP (mg/L)/albumin (g/L). According to the optimal cut-off value of CAR for all-cause mortality, patients were divided into higher CAR (CAR-H) and lower CAR (CAR-L) groups.

RESULTS

A total of 2755 patients with T2DM who underwent PCI and received dual antiplatelet therapy were finally enrolled. During a follow-up of 5 years (interquartile range: 5.0-5.1 years), 126 (4.6%) all-cause mortalities and 74 (2.7%) cardiac mortalities were recorded. In the multivariable Cox model, CAR-H was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.634, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.121-2.380, p = 0.011) and cardiac mortality (HR: 1.733, 95% CI 1.059-2.835, p = 0.029) compared with CAR-L. When comparing the predictive value, CAR was superior to hs-CRP for all-cause mortality (area under the curve [AUC] 0.588 vs. 0.580, p = 0.002) and cardiac mortality (AUC 0.602 vs. 0.593, p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

In this real-world cohort study, a higher level of CAR was associated with worse 5-year outcomes among diabetic patients with PCI.

Association between red blood cell distribution width-to-albumin ratio and prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and albumin level were considered to be related to the prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study aims to investigate the correlation between RAR and 90-day mortality in AMI patients.

METHODS

Data of AMI patients were obtained from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III) database. According to the median, RAR < 4.32 was regarded as low RAR level group, and RAR ≥ 4.32 as high RAR level group; low RDW level group was defined as < 14.00%, and high RDW level group as ≥ 14.00%; albumin < 3.30 g/dL was low level group, and albumin ≥ 3.30 g/dL as high level group. The outcome was the mortality rate within 90 days after admission to ICU. Univariate and multivariate Cox models were performed to determine the relationship between RAR and 90-day mortality in AMI patients with hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Stratification analyses were conducted to explore the effect of RAR on 90-day mortality in different subgroups of age, gender, simplified acute physiology score II (SAPS II), elixhauser comorbidity index (ECI) score, treatment modalities and white blood cell.

RESULTS

Of the total 2081 AMI patients, 543 (26.09%) died within 90-day follow-up duration. The results showed that high RAR (HR = 1.65, 95% CI 1.34-2.03) and high RDW levels (HR = 1.31, 95% CI 1.08-1.61) were associated with an increased risk of death in AMI patients, and that high albumin level was related to a decreased risk of death (HR = 0.77, 95%CI 0.64-0.93). The relationship of RAR level and the mortality of AMI patients was also observed in the subgroup analysis. Additionally, the finding indicated that RAR might be a more effective biomarker for predicting 90-day mortality of AMI patients than albumin, RDW.

CONCLUSION

RAR may be a potential marker for the prognostic assessment of AMI, and a high RAR level was correlated with increased risk of 90-day mortality of AMI patients.

Nomograms Based on the Albumin/Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Score for Predicting Coronary Artery Disease or Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease

Purpose

To develop and validate two nomograms incorporating the albumin/neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio score (ANS) for predicting the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) or subclinical CAD.

Patients and Methods

Four hundred fifty patients with suspected CAD who underwent coronary computed tomographic angiography were consecutively enrolled between September 2015 and June 2017. Nomograms were established based on independent predictors of CAD or subclinical CAD.

Results

In total, 437 patients with suspected CAD who underwent coronary computed tomographic angiography were included. Male sex, age ≥65 years, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, ischemic stroke, and ANS were independent predictors of CAD and subclinical CAD. The areas under the curve of each nomogram were 0.799 (95% CI: 0.752-0.846) and 0.809 (95% CI: 0.762-0.856), respectively. The calibration curve and decision curve analysis showed good performance for the diagnostic nomograms. The prediction of CAD or subclinical CAD by the ANS was not modified by the independent predictors (all, p for interaction >0.05).

Conclusion

Our ANS-based nomograms can provide accurate and individualized risk predictions for patients with suspected CAD or subclinical CAD.

Emerging Biomarkers for Predicting Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Heart Disease

Cardiovascular disease is most frequently caused by the development and progression of atherosclerosis. When coronary arteries are afflicted, and the stenoses caused by atherosclerotic plaques are severe enough, the metabolic supply-and-offer balance is disturbed, leading to myocardial ischemia. If atherosclerotic plaques become unstable and local thrombosis develops, a myocardial infarction occurs. Sometimes, myocardial ischemia and infarction may result in significant and irreversible heart failure. To prevent severe complications, such as acute coronary syndromes and ischemia-related heart failure, extensive efforts have been made for developing biomarkers that would help identify patients at increased risk for cardiovascular events. In this two-part study, we attempted to provide a review of existing knowledge of blood biomarkers that may be used in this setting. The first part of this work was dedicated to conventional biomarkers, which are already used in clinical practice. In the second part, here presented, we discuss emerging biomarkers which have not yet become mainstream.

Red Cell Distribution Width/Albumin Ratio: A Predictor of In-Hospital All-Cause Mortality in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction in the ICU

Purpose

Red cell distribution width (RDW) and albumin level are linked to adverse outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Nonetheless, it remains unknown whether the RDW/albumin ratio (RAR) is associated with the short-term prognosis of AMI. Using a large cohort, we aimed to explore the association between RAR and in-hospital all-cause mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with AMI.

Patients and Methods

The patients' data analyzed in this retrospective cohort investigation were obtained from the eICU Collaborative Research Data Resource. RAR was calculated based on the serum albumin level and RDW. The primary outcome was in-hospital all-cause mortality. Receiver operating characteristic curve, multiple logistic regression model, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were performed to explore the prognostic value of RAR.

Results

We enrolled 2594 patients in this study. After correcting for confounding factors, the RAR was an independent predictor for in-hospital mortality in our model (odds ratio [OR] 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12, 1.43). A similar relationship was observed with mechanical ventilation use. RAR showed a better predictive value with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.738 (cutoff, 4.776) for in-hospital all-cause mortality compared to RDW or albumin alone. Kaplan-Meier estimator curve analyses for RAR demonstrated that the group with RAR ≥4.776%/g/dL had poorer survival than the group with RAR <4.776%/g/dL (p< 0.0001). The subgroup analysis revealed no significant interaction between RAR and in-hospital all-cause mortality in all strata.

Conclusion

RAR was an independent risk factor for in-hospital all-cause mortality in ICU patients with AMI. Higher RAR values corresponded to higher mortality rates. RAR is a more accurate predictor of in-hospital all-cause mortality in patients with AMI in the ICU than albumin or RDW. Thus, RAR may be a potential biomarker of AMI.

The Relationship Between the Neutrophil Percentage-to-Albumin Ratio and Rates of 28-Day Mortality in Atrial Fibrillation Patients 80 Years of Age or Older

Backgrounds and Aims

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia among the older patients (≥ 80 years) in clinical practice. The index of neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) is a reliable predictor of adverse outcomes in cardiovascular diseases. There is scarce evidence regarding the association between NPAR and mortality among the older patients with AF.

Methods

The research was conducted among 1141 patients with AF between January 2015 and June 2020, hospitalized at Huadong Hospital affiliated with Fudan University. The primary outcome were 28-day all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to explore the correlation between NPAR and 28-day all-cause or cardiovascular mortality. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under the curve (AUC) were performed for the predictive values of NPAR on prognosis.

Results

The 28-day death rate from cardiovascular disease and all-causes were 3.3% and 8.7%, respectively. Continuous NPAR levels were positively associated with all-cause (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.09, 1.16) and cardiovascular (HR 1.16, 95% CI 1.10, 1.23) mortality after adjustment for confounding variables. Relative to patients in the T1 group, those in higher NPAR tertiles also exhibit elevated risks of all-cause (P < 0.001) and cardiovascular mortality (P < 0.001). Furthermore, both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality rates rose with increasing NPAR in all analyzed subgroups.

Conclusion

NPAR values are consistently positively related to 28-day all-cause and cardiovascular mortality rates in patients ≥80 years of age with AF.

Albumin as a Prognostic Marker for Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence following Cryoballoon Ablation of Pulmonary Venous

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence following pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) ablation has clinical significance. Identifying risk factors for AF recurrence is important. We investigated serum albumin (SA) levels (g/dL) as a prognostic factor for the recurrence of AF following cryoballoon PVI ablation. Methods: We included patients who underwent cryoballoon PVI ablation at our institution between the years 2013 and 2018. The primary outcome was recurrence of AF during follow up. Results: Our cohort consisted of 126 patients (67% males, mean age 61.8 ± 10.0 years). The pattern of AF amongst the cohort was paroxysmal in 62.5%, persistent in 25.4%, and longstanding persistent in 6.3%. Those with lower SA levels had a mean AF duration significantly less than those with higher SA levels (2.81 years, 7.34 years, and 6.37 years for SA levels of <3.8, 3.8−4.1, and ≥4.1, respectively; p = 0.003). Patients with lower SA levels were significantly more likely to have had more previous cardioversions and a larger left atrial area and volume. The mean follow-up was 380 days, in which the AF recurrence rate was 20.6%. Patients with lower SA level had significantly more AF recurrences (47.4%, 16.7%, and 2.2% for SA levels of <3.8, 3.8−4.1, and ≥4.1, respectively; p < 0.001). Upon multivariate analysis, an SA level < 3.8 was associated with a higher risk of AF recurrence (OR = 5.422 95% CI 1.134; 25.910; p < 0.001). Conclusion: SA levels were found to be a strong independent marker for AF recurrence following PVI ablation.

The predictive value of C-reactive protein to albümin ratio for ascending aort progression in patients with ascending aortic diameter of 40-50 mm

We aimed to investigate the ability of the C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) to predict ascending aorta progression in patients with 40-50 mm diameter of ascending aortic dilatation. A total of 182 diagnosed patients with ascending aortic diameters of 40-50 mm were enrolled in this study. The study population was divided into tertiles based on yearly ascending aortic growth rate values. Group I (n = 137) was defined as a value in the lower 2 tertiles (ascending aorta growth ≤ 1.00 mm/year), and group II (n = 45) was defined as a value in the third tertile (ascending aorta growth > 1.00 mm/year). Hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, positive family history, and CAR were found to be independent risk factors for ascending aorta growth > 1.00 mm/year. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of CAR was 0.771(95% CI 0.689-0.854) for predicting ascending aorta growth > 1.00 mm/year. In patients with 40-50 mm ascending aneurysms, CAR may be useful to predict ascending aorta progression.

The predictive value of CatLet© angiographic scoring system for long-term prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction presenting > 12 h after symptom onset

Background

We have recently developed the C oronary A rtery T ree description and L esion E valua T ion (CatLet©) angiographic scoring system, which is capable of accounting for the variability in coronary anatomy, and risk-stratifying patients with coronary artery disease. This study aimed to clarify whether the CatLet score had a predictive value for long-term prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) presenting > 12 h after symptom onset.

Materials and methods

The CatLet score was calculated for 1,018 consecutively enrolled AMI patients, who were divided into 3 groups according to the CatLet score tertiles. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), defined as a composite of myocardial infarction, cardiac death, and ischemia-driven revascularization; secondary endpoints were all-cause death, cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and ischemia-driven revascularization.

Results

The CatLet score was capable of predicting long-term prognosis at a median 4.9-year follow-up alone or after adjustment for risk factors. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI)/unit higher score were 1.06 (1.05-1.08) for MACEs, 1.05 (1.03-1.07) for all-cause death, 1.06 (1.04-1.09) for cardiac death, 1.06 (1.04-1.08) for myocardial infarction, and 1.06 (1.04-1.08) for revascularization. The univariate model showed good calibration (χ2 = 8.25, P = 0.4091) and good discrimination (area under ROC curve = 0.7086) for MACEs.

Conclusion

The CatLet score is an independent predictor of long-term clinical outcomes of patients with AMI presenting > 12 h after symptom onset (http://www.chictr.org.cn; Registry Number: ChiCTR2000033730).

Association of Liver Function Tests with Mortality in an Insurance Applicant Population

OBJECTIVES

-Determine the relationship between liver function test (LFT) results (GGT, alkaline phosphatase, AST, ALT and albumin) and all-cause mortality in life insurance applicants.

METHOD

-By use of the Social Security Master Death File, mortality was examined in 15,272,955 insurance applicants for whom blood samples were submitted to the Clinical Reference Laboratory. There were 268,593 deaths observed in this study population, after an average follow-up time of 10.9 years. Results were stratified by sex and by age less/greater than 60, creating 4 groups. Liver function test values were grouped using percentiles of their distribution within these age/ sex groups - so as to update the results generated in prior publications. Additional models were fit using different exclusions and percentile groups within single year age groups. Also, LFTs were treated as continuous variables and included in Cox models with age and smoking status.

RESULTS

-Using the risk of the middle 50% of the population by distribution as a reference, relative mortality observed for GGT and alkaline phosphatase was linear with a steep slope from very low to high values. AST showed a J-shaped association with mortality. ALT showed a low-magnitude inverse correlation with mortality. Albumin demonstrated a higher-magnitude inverse correlation with mortality, especially at values below the median. The overall risk associated with LFTs was durable over at least 10 years of follow-up.

CONCLUSION

-Liver function tests show a strong and durable correlation to mortality in a large group of insurance applicants. The durability over time suggests that even older values of LFTs found in medical records could be of use in mortality risk prediction.

The Association Between High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein/Albumin Ratio and Cardiovascular Prognosis in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Limited studies have focused on the impact of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) to albumin ratio (CAR) on cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Hence, the present study evaluates the association between CAR and cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. We consecutively enrolled 9375 CHD patients undergoing DES implantation. All patients were divided into 3 groups according to their CAR: tertile 1 (CAR ≤.02, n=3125), tertile 2 (.02<CAR≤.06, n = 3125), and tertile 3 (CAR >.06, n = 3125). The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that the incidences of MACCE and MI increased with high tertiles of the CAR (MACCE: 8.7 vs 10.5 vs 12.3%, log-rank P < .001; MI: 3.3 vs 4.0 vs 4.7%, long-rank P = .015). Cox regression analysis suggested that CAR was an independent risk factors for MACCE (HR per standard deviation (SD) increase: 1.07, 95% CI, 1.01-1.14, P = .024), and MI (HR per SD increase: 1.11, 95% CI, 1.01-1.22, P = .028). In conclusion, the CAR is an independent predictor of MACCE and MI in CHD patients.

Prognostic Value of Serum Albumin Level in Critically Ill Patients: Observational Data From Large Intensive Care Unit Databases

Background

Decreased serum albumin level (SAL) is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. We designed the present study to further assess the prognostic value of SAL in critically ill patients based on data from large intensive care unit (ICU) databases.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study recruited 18,353 patients from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database. Restricted cubic splines (RCS) were performed to visualize the association of SAL at admission with ICU and hospital mortalities. The prognostic value of SAL was analyzed using logistic regression models and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves in overall patients and subgroups.

Results

Restricted cubic splines revealed rapid increasing risks in ICU and hospital mortalities when SAL declined to below 30 g/l. Patients with SAL <30 g/l (n = 6,069) had higher ICU (13.7% vs. 6.4%, p < 0.001) and hospital (23.9% vs. 10.7%, p < 0.001) mortalities than those with SAL ≥30 g/l. Multivariable logistic regression model revealed that SAL <30 g/l independently correlated with higher risks of both ICU (odds ratio [OR]: 1.20, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07–1.36) and hospital (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.37–1.66) mortalities. However, the association diminished in patients with cirrhosis (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.91–1.49 for ICU mortality; OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.00–1.48 for hospital mortality). ROC curves revealed a poor performance of SAL in predicting mortalities, both in overall patients and in those with cirrhosis.

Conclusions

Decreased SAL is associated with increased risk of mortality. However, it possesses low sensitivity and specificity for outcome prediction in critically ill patients, especially in those with cirrhosis.

Impact of albumin infusion on prognosis of intensive care unit patients with congestive heart failure-hypoalbuminemia overlap: a retrospective cohort study

Background

Hypoalbuminemia is common in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients. Serum albumin is associated with the prognosis of CHF patients. Impact of albumin infusion on prognosis of patients with CHF-hypoalbuminemia overlap remains unclear. We retrospectively investigated the impact of albumin infusion on prognosis of intensive care unit (ICU) patients with CHF-hypoalbuminemia overlap.

Methods

We enrolled all patients whose diagnosis included CHF [ICD-9 (international classification of diseases 9) code =428.0] at first ICU admission from the MIMIC III (Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III) database, and excluded those with missing serum albumin values, with serum albumin >3.4 g/dL or <18 years old. According to the exposure of albumin infusion during hospitalization, patients were stratified into non-albumin and albumin groups. Propensity-score matching (PSM) was performed (1:1 ratio) to control for baseline confounding. Outcome measures were in-hospital mortality as well as length of stay in the ICU (ICU LOS) and the hospital (hospital LOS).

Results

There were 3,190 eligible patients in the initial search. Patients with albumin infusion had markedly higher in-hospital mortality (36.42% vs. 21.81%, P<0.001), longer ICU LOS [median 6.93 (3.39–14.82) vs. 3.84 (1.96–8.00) days, P<0.001], and longer hospital LOS [median 17.46 (11.45–28.33) vs. 10.92 (6.81–18.00) days, P<0.001] than those without albumin infusion. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that albumin infusion [odds ratio (OR), 1.509; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.164–1.957; P=0.002] was significantly associated with increased risk of in-hospital mortality. After PSM, a cohort of 429 pairs of patients was included in the final analysis. Patients with albumin infusion had markedly higher in-hospital mortality (34.97% vs. 27.27%, P=0.015), longer ICU LOS [median 8.43 (4.33–16.28) vs. 6.43 (3.07–13.66) days, P<0.001], and longer hospital LOS [median 16.92 (11.27–28.06) vs. 13.33 (8.00–21.10) days, P<0.001] than those without albumin infusion. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that albumin infusion (OR, 1.594; 95% CI, 1.143–2.223; P=0.006) was significantly associated with increased risk of in-hospital mortality.

Conclusions

Albumin infusion increased in-hospital mortality, ICU LOS, and hospital LOS in ICU patients with CHF-hypoalbuminemia overlap.

The Ratio of Red Blood Cell Distribution Width to Albumin Is Correlated With All-Cause Mortality of Patients After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention – A Retrospective Cohort Study

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to investigate the independent effect of the ratio of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) to albumin (RA) on all-cause mortality in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

Clinical data were obtained from the Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care-III (MIMIC-III) database version 1.4 and the database of Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. We used the MIMIC-III database for model training, and data collected from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University for validation. The primary outcome of our study was 90-day mortality. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate hazard ratio (HR) for the association between RA and all-cause mortality in patients after PCI. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between RA and Gensini score or cardiac troponin I (cTnI).

Results

A total of 707 patients were eligible in MIMIC-III database, including 432 males, with a mean age of 70.29 years. For 90-day all-cause mortality, in the adjusted multivariable model, the adjusted HRs [95% confidence intervals (CIs)] for the second (RA: 3.7–4.5 ml/g) and third (RA >4.5 ml/g) tertiles were 2.27 (1.11, 4.64) and 3.67 (1.82, 7.40), respectively, compared to the reference group (RA <3.7 ml/g) (p < 0.05). A similar relationship was also observed for 30-day all-cause mortality and 1-year all-cause mortality. No significant interaction was observed in subgroup analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis proved that the ability of RA to predict the 90-day mortality was better than that of RDW or albumin alone. The correlation coefficient between Gensini score and RA was 0.254, and that between cTnI and RA was 0.323.

Conclusion

RA is an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality in patients after PCI. The higher the RA, the higher the mortality. RA has a good predictive ability for all-cause mortality in patients after PCI, which is better than RDW or albumin alone. RA may be positively correlated with the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with CAD.

Elevated Blood Urea Nitrogen to Serum Albumin Ratio Is an Adverse Prognostic Predictor for Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

Background

Elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and reduced albumin have been prominently correlated with unfavorable outcomes in patients with cardiovascular diseases. However, whether combination BUN and albumin levels could predict the adverse outcomes of cardiac surgery patients remains to be confirmed. Here, we investigated the prognostic effect of the preoperative BUN to serum albumin ratio (BAR) in cardiac surgery patients.

Methods

Data were obtained from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC) III and eICU databases and classified into a training cohort and validation cohort. The BAR (mg/g) was calculated by initial BUN (mg/dl)/serum albumin (g/dl). The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were 1-year mortality, prolonged length at intensive care unit, and duration of hospital stay. The associations of BAR with outcomes were explored by multivariate regression analysis and subgroup analyses. Then, C statistics were performed to assess the added prognostic impact of BAR beyond a baseline risk model.

Results

Patients with in-hospital death had significantly higher levels of BAR. Multivariate regression analysis identified BAR, as a categorical or continuous variable, as an independent factor for adverse outcomes of cardiac surgery (all p < 0.05). Subgroup analyses demonstrated a significant relationship between elevated BAR and in-hospital mortality in different subclasses. The addition of BAR to a baseline model provided additional prognostic information benefits for assessing primary outcome. Results were concordant in the external validation cohort.

Conclusions

Increased preoperative BAR is a potent predictor of unfavorable outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Development, validation, and visualization of a web-based nomogram to predict 5-year mortality risk in older adults with hypertension

Background

Hypertension-related mortality has been increasing in older adults, resulting in serious burden to society and individual. However, how to identify older adults with hypertension at high-risk mortality remains a great challenge. The purpose of this study is to develop and validate the prediction nomogram for 5-year all-cause mortality in older adults with hypertension.

Methods

Data were extracted from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). We recruited 2691 participants aged 65 years and over with hypertension in the NHANES 1999-2006 cycles (training cohort) and 1737 participants in the NHANES 2007-2010 cycles (validation cohort). The cohorts were selected to provide at least 5 years follow-up for evaluating all-cause mortality by linking National Death Index through December 31, 2015. We developed a web-based dynamic nomogram for predicting 5-year risk of all-cause mortality based on a logistic regression model in training cohort. We conducted internal validation by 1000 bootstrapping resamples and external validation in validation cohort. The discrimination and calibration of nomogram were evaluated using concordance index (C-index) and calibration curves.

Results

The final model included eleven independent predictors: age, sex, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, body mass index, smoking, lipid-lowering drugs, systolic blood pressure, hemoglobin, albumin, and blood urea nitrogen. The C-index of model in training and validation cohort were 0.759 (bootstrap-corrected C-index 0.750) and 0.740, respectively. The calibration curves also indicated that the model had satisfactory consistence in two cohorts. A web-based nomogram was established (https://hrzhang1993.shinyapps.io/dynnomapp).

Conclusions

The novel developed nomogram is a useful tool to accurately predict 5-year all-cause mortality in older adults with hypertension, and can provide valuable information to make individualized intervention.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-022-03087-3.

The neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio is associated with all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with acute myocardial infarction

Aim

In this study, we evaluated the utility of neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) in predicting in critically ill patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods

The information of patients were collected from Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III database. Admission NPAR was calculated as neutrophil percentage divided by serum albumin. The endpoints of this study were 30-day, 90-day, 180-day, and 365-day all-cause mortality. Cox proportional hazards models and subgroup analyses were used to determine the relationship between admission NPAR and these endpoints.

Results

798 critically ill patients with AMI were enrolled in. After adjustments for age, race and gender, higher admission NPAR was associated with increased risk of 30-day, 90-day, 180-day, and 365-day all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with AMI. And after adjusting for possible confounding variables, two different trends have emerged. Stratified by tertiles, high admission NPAR was independently associated with 180-day and 365-day all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with AMI (tertile 3 vs. tertile 1: adjusted HR, 95% CI 1.71, 1.10–2.66, p < 0.05; 1.66, 1.10–2.51, p < 0.05). In other hand, stratified by quartiles, highest admission NPAR levels were independently associated with 90-day, 180-day and 365-day all-cause mortality (quartile 4 vs. quartile 1: adjusted HR, 95% CI 2.36, 1.32–4.23, p < 0.05; 2.58, 1.49–4.47, p < 0.05; 2.61, 1.56–4.37, p < 0.05). ROC test showed that admission NPAR had a moderate ability to predict all-cause mortality of critically ill patients with AMI. No obvious interaction was found by subgroup analysis in most subgroups.

Conclusions

Admission NPAR was an independent predictor for 180-day and 365-day all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with AMI.

ALB-dNLR Score Predicts Mortality in Coronary Artery Disease Patients After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background

The influence of the albumin/derived neutrophil and lymphocyte ratio (ALB-dNLR) on the outcomes of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is not known. Here, we aimed to determine the association between the ALB-dNLR score and post-PCI CAD patient outcomes.

Methods

A total of 6,050 patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University were enrolled between January 2008 and December 2016. These patients were divided into three groups according to their ALB-dNLR scores (0 points, n = 1,121; 1 point, n = 3,119; 2 points, n = 1,810). Mortality after PCI [all-cause (ACM) and cardiac (CM)] was taken as the primary endpoint. The prognostic value of the ALB-dNLR score was determined with the Cox proportional hazard model after adjustment for covariates.

Results

The ACM and CM rates differed among participants in the three groups (P = 0.007 and P = 0.034, respectively). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that the ALB-dNLR score independently predicted both ACM [1 point vs. 0 points, HR = 1.249 (95% CI: 0.79–1.774), P = 0.215; 2 points vs. 0 points, HR = 1.777 (95% CI: 1.239–2.549), P = 0.002] and CM [1 point vs. 0 points, HR = 1.294 (95% CI: 0.871–1.922), P = 0.202; 2 points vs. 0 points, HR = 1.782 (95% CI: 1.185–1.782), P = 0.027]. We also found that among male patients in the three groups, both ACM and CM rates differed (P = 0.006 and P = 0.017, respectively). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that the ALB-dNLR score independently predicted both ACM [1 point vs. 0 points, HR = 1.237 (95% CI: 0.806–0.330), P = 0.330; 2 points vs. 0 points, HR = 1.790 (95% CI: 1.159–2.764), P = 0.009] and CM [1 point vs. 0 points HR = 1.472 (95% CI: 0.892–2.430), P = 0.130; 2 points vs. 0 points, HR = 1.792 (95% CI: 1.182–3.289), P = 0.009].

Conclusion

The ALB-dNLR score is a credible predictor for mortality in patients with CAD who have undergone PCI.

Association of the serum albumin level with prognosis in chronic kidney disease patients

PURPOSE

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important contributor to the overall morbidity and mortality due to noncommunicable diseases. We investigated the relationship between serum albumin and the clinical prognosis in patients with stage G2-G5 CKD who were not undergoing dialysis.

METHODS

This was a post hoc analysis of 1138 patients enrolled from 2010 to 2011 in the Chronic Kidney Disease Research of Outcomes in Treatment and Epidemiology (CKD-ROUTE) study. The primary endpoints were CKD progression, cardiovascular disease (CVD) development, and all-cause mortality. Cox proportional hazards models were used.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up time of 35 months, the number of patients who experienced CKD progression, CVD development, and all-cause mortality was 278 (24.7%), 116 (10.3%), and 78 (6.9%), respectively. In multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models, the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for CKD progression, CVD development, and all-cause mortality in patients with the highest quartile of serum albumin concentrations compared to those with the lowest quartile of serum albumin concentrations were 0.13 (P < 0.0001), 0.29 (P = 0.0002), and 0.27 (P = 0.0009), respectively, in the model adjusted for demographic factors, hypertension, diabetes, and a history of CVD. After further adjustment for the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urinary protein/creatinine ratio (UPCR), and systolic blood pressure (SBP), the results remained significant (HR for CKD progression 0.37, P < 0.0001; HR for CVD development 0.41, P = 0.0120; HR for all-cause mortality 0.37, P = 0.0158).

CONCLUSION

Serum albumin levels were inversely associated with the risks of CKD progression, CVD development, and all-cause mortality among patients with stage G2-G5 CKD who were not undergoing dialysis.

Predictive Value of Blood Urea Nitrogen to Albumin Ratio in Long-Term Mortality in Intensive Care Unit Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

Background

Blood urea nitrogen to albumin ratio (BAR) has been implicated in predicting outcomes of various inflammatory-related diseases. However, the predictive value of BAR in long-term mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has not yet been evaluated.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, the patients were recruited from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC III) database and categorized into two groups by a cutoff value of BAR. Kaplan–Meier (K-M) analysis and Cox proportional hazard model were performed to determine the predictive value of BAR in long-term mortality following AMI. In order to adjust the baseline differences, a 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was carried out and the results were further validated.

Results

A total of 1827 eligible patients were enrolled. The optimal cutoff value of BAR for four-year mortality was 7.83 mg/g. Patients in the high BAR group tended to have a longer intensive care unit (ICU) stay and a higher rate of one-, two-, three- and four-year mortality (all p<0.001) compared with those in the low BAR group. K-M curves indicated a significant difference in four-year survival (p<0.001) between low and high BAR groups. The Cox proportional hazards model showed that higher BAR (>7.83) was independently associated with increased four-year mortality in the entire cohort, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.478 [95% CI (1.254–1.740), p<0.001]. After PSM, the baseline characteristics of 312 pairs of patients in the high and low BAR groups were well balanced, and similar results were observed in K-M curve (p=0.003).

Conclusion

A higher BAR (>7.83) was associated with four-year mortality in patients with AMI. As an easily available biomarker, BAR can predict the long-term mortality in AMI patients independently.

Neutrophil Albumin Ratio is Associated with All-Cause Mortality in Stroke Patients: A Retrospective Database Study

Objective

The novel biomarker, neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR), as a prognostic tool for inflammation in relation to all-cause mortality for patients afflicted by strokes has yet to be explored.

Methods

Data sets associated with patient files stored within the MIMIC-III V1.4 database were obtained. Data files from 940-patients were obtained for this retrospective analysis. Clinical endpoints were determined to represent a month (30-), three months (90-) and year (365-) all-cause mortality in stroke patients were determined. In order to determine NPAR and clinical endpoint relationships, Cox proportional hazards models were utilized.

Results

For all-cause mortality within a 30-day period, in an unadjusted model, the HR (95% CIs) in group B (NPAR 20.5–25.0) and C (NPAR >25.0) was 1.17 (0.85, 1.63) and 1.55 (1.13, 2.11) compared with group A (NPAR < 20.5). Proceeding adjustment for more confounding factors, higher NPAR still obtained significant predictive power for 30-day all-cause mortality (HR= 1.45, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.00). Statistical significance (P = 0.0196) was also observed for the other time-based subgroupings for all-cause mortality.

Conclusion

A strong correlation was present between increased levels of the novel biomarker NPAR and increased risk of mortality in stroke patients.

A New Predictor of Mortality in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: The Uric Acid Albumin Ratio

Several studies have shown that high uric acid (UA) and low serum albumin (SA) values increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We determined whether the uric acid/albumin ratio (UAR) is a predictor of mortality in STEMI patients. All patients who presented at our center with a diagnosis of STEMI and underwent percutaneous intervention from 2015 to 2020 were screened consecutively; 4599 patients were included. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate UAR, and adjusted predictors obtained from laboratory findings and clinical characteristics contributed to mortality. Also, a regression model was presented with a directed acyclic graph (DAG). The median age of the patients was 58 years (IQR [interquartile range]: 50–67); 3581 patients (77.9%) were male. The incidence of mortality in the entire patient group was 11.9%. Median follow-up duration of all groups was 42 months. Multivariate Cox proportional regression (model-1) analysis showed age (increase 50 to 67 years; HR [hazard ratio]: 1.34, 95% CI 1.18–1.52) and UAR (increase 1.15–1.73; HR: 1.33, 95% CI 1.16–1.52) were associated with mortality. UAR may be a prognostic factor for mortality in STEMI patients and an easily accessible parameter to identify high-risk patients.

Association of Red Blood Cell Distribution Width-Albumin Ratio for Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients with Mortality: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) was a risk factor for poor prognosis in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Recent reports suggested that combining RDW with other laboratory metrics could provide a better prediction. This retrospective study aimed to investigate whether the RDW-albumin ratio (RAR) may be associated with mortality after an AMI.

METHODS

This cohort study was conducted among adults (over 16 years old) with AMI in the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care Database III V1.4 (MIMIC-III). The primary outcome was 30-day mortality, and the secondary outcome was 1-year and 3-year mortality. Cox hazard regression model and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed to estimate the effect of biomarkers on mortality. We used three models to adjust for potential bias. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the area under the curve (AUC) were analyzed for the excellent performance of RAR on prognosis.

RESULTS

A total of 826 patients were eventually enrolled in our study. In multivariate analysis, RAR was found to be associated with 30-day mortality (Model 3: HR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.09-1.39, P < .001). In addition, Subgroup analysis showed that the effect of RAR was higher in female patients than in male patients (P for interaction = .026). Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that patients in the lower RAR quartile tended to have higher survival rates in the short and long term. AMI patients with RAR ≥ 4 had a 122% increase in 3-year mortality. Results of ROC and AUC showed that the prognostic performance of RAR for mortality was the best (30-day mortality: 0.703; 1-year mortality: 0.729; 3-year mortality: 0.737).

CONCLUSIONS

RAR is a simple and stable predictor of prognosis in AMI patients. Our results support RAR = 4.0 as a criterion for prognostic risk stratification of AMI patients.