Low albumin level in the emergency department: a potential independent predictor of delayed mortality in blunt trauma

Patients with Severe Trauma Having an Injury Severity Score of 24 and above Develop Nutritional Disorders

In this single-center, retrospective, observational study, we aimed to assess the severity at which patients with trauma tend to develop metabolic disturbances that worsen their Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) scores. Participants were general adult patients with trauma hospitalized for at least one week. Injury Severity Scores (ISSs) at admission and CONUT scores one week later were calculated, and correlation coefficients were examined. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to calculate the ISS cutoff value for a CONUT score of 5 or more on day 7 of hospitalization. The ISS was assessed using multiple logistic regression analysis to determine whether it predicts worse nutritional status. Forty-nine patients were included. ISSs correlated with CONUT scores on day 7 (r = 0.373, p = 0.008). Using the ROC curve, the cutoff value for the ISS was 23.5. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that a high ISS (odds ratio [OR], 1.158; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.034-1.296; p = 0.011) and older age (OR, 1.094; 95% CI, 1.027-1.165; p = 0.005) were associated with a CONUT score 5 or more on day 7 of hospitalization. Patients with trauma with an ISS of 24 or higher have worsening CONUT scores during hospitalization; these patients require careful nutritional management.

Dog bite wounds in cats: a retrospective study of 72 cases

OBJECTIVES

Bite wounds are a common cause of trauma in cats; nevertheless, large-scale studies of this trauma in cats are lacking. The aims of the present study were to characterise the clinical and clinicopathological findings in these cats, to assess the association of these variables and therapeutic measures with survival, and to assess the association between the animal trauma triage (ATT) score and severity of injuries score (SS) at presentation with survival.

METHODS

The medical records of cats presented to a veterinary teaching hospital and two large referral clinics were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTS

The study included 72 cats diagnosed with canine bite wounds (with the dog attacks having been witnessed). Seventy-one percent of cats suffered multiple injuries, and there was a significant association between the number of injured body areas and survival, and between severity of injury and survival (P = 0.02 and P = 0.012, respectively). The median ATT scores and SSs for non-survivors were significantly higher compared with survivors (P <0.0001). There was a strong and significant correlation between ATT scores and SSs (r = 0.704, P <0.0001). Total protein and albumin were significantly lower and alanine aminotransferase significantly higher in non-survivors compared with survivors (P ⩽0.032). Fifty percent of cats were treated conservatively, 32% by local surgical debridement and 18% of cats required an exploratory procedure. Cats undergoing more aggressive treatments were significantly less likely to survive (P = 0.029). Fifty-seven cats (79%) survived to discharge.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Cats sustaining canine bite wounds have a good overall prognosis for survival to discharge. High ATT score, high SS, multiple body area injuries, penetrating injuries, radiographic evidence of vertebral body fractures and body wall abnormalities, as well as hypoproteinaemia and elevated alanine aminotransferase, are negative predictors of survival.

An evaluation of ischaemia-modified albumin levels in the development of diabetic foot ulcer

INTRODUCTION

This study investigated the status of serum ischaemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels in the development of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and in predicting ulcer formation and ulcer grading.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Thirty patients with DM, 30 with DFU and 30 healthy controls were included in the study. All participants' demographic characteristics and serum IMA, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and white blood cell (WBC) levels and DFU infection grades were recorded.

RESULTS

Nine (30%) patients with DFU were grade 2 according to the grading of International Working Group of the Diabetic Foot, 14 (46.7%) were grade 3 and seven (23.3%) were grade 4. Significant, powerful and positive correlation was determined between serum IMA and albumin-adjusted IMA levels and degrees of DFU (r = 0.878 and r = 0.846, P < .001 for both). Serum IMA levels in the DFU group were significantly higher than in the DM and control groups (P < .001). The optimal cut-off values for IMA in predicting DFU was 23.5 ng/mL (sensitivity 96%, specificity 87% and AUC = 0.97, P < .001). Additionally, at a cut-off value of 20.6 ng/mL, serum albumin-adjusted IMA differentiated cases of DFU from healthy individuals with 90% sensitivity and 83% specificity (AUC = 0.95, P < .001) Serum IMA levels exhibited significant, positive correlation with CRP, ESR, WBC, fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c (r = 0.575, r = 0.592, r = 0.597, r = 0.68 and r = 0.74, respectively, P < .001). Serum albumin levels were significantly negatively correlated with IMA, CRP, ESR and WBC values (r = -0.49, r = -0.56, r = -0.62 and r = -0.53, respectively, P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Our study findings indicate that together with CRP, ESH, WBC and albumin, increased IMA levels in patients with DM can be useful in the early prevention of DFU development and in predicting the severity of DFU infection.

Retrospective evaluation of 140 dogs involved in road traffic accidents

This study has retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 140 dogs sustaining road traffic accident (RTA), and has examined the population characteristics, medical history, injury type, physical examination, emergency laboratory tests and radiography findings, the animal trauma triage (ATT) score, the length of hospitalisation, the complications and the outcome. The survival rate was 83.2 per cent. Younger dogs sustained more frequently lung contusions and limb fractures, while larger dogs more frequently suffered limb fractures, and smaller dogs and older ones sustained more frequently pelvic fractures and sacroiliac luxation (P<0.05 for all). Dogs sustaining orthopaedic injuries required longer hospitalisation (P<0.001). The survival rates of non-ambulatory dogs (P<0.001) and those with neurological abnormalities (P<0.001), abnormal body temperature (P=0.001), hyperglycaemia (P=0.026) or hypoproteinaemia (P=0.04) at presentation were lower compared with those in which these were absent. The number of injured body systems was significantly (P<0.001) and positively associated with death. Dogs surviving RTA to presentation to the hospital have a good prognosis for survival to discharge. Older age, and high ATT score, abnormal body temperature, neurological deficits, hyperglycaemia and hypoproteinaemia at presentation, and occurrence of multiorgan trauma are negative prognostic indicators in such dogs.

The Revised Trauma Score plus serum albumin level improves the prediction of mortality in trauma patients

INTRODUCTION

The Revised Trauma Score (RTS) is used worldwide in prehospital practice and in the emergency department (ED) settings to triage trauma patients. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of the RTS plus serum albumin (RTS-A) and to compare it with other existing trauma scores as well as to compare the predictive performance of the Trauma and Injury Severity Score with the RTS-A (TRISS-A) with the original TRISS.

METHODS

This was a single center, trauma registry based observational cohort study. Data were collected from consecutive patients with blunt or penetrating injuries who presented to the emergency department of a tertiary referral hospital, between January 2012 and June 2016. 3145 and 2447 patients were assigned to the derivation group and validation group, respectively. Main outcome was in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

Among patients in the derivation group, the median [interquartile range] age was 59 [43-73] years, and 66.7% were male. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) of the RTS-A (0.948; 95% CI: 0.939-0.955) was higher than that of the RTS (0.919; 95% CI: 0.909-0.929). In patients with blunt trauma, the AUC of the TRISS-A (0.960; 95% CI: 0.952-0.967) was significantly higher than that of the original TRISS (0.949; 95% CI: 0.941-0.957).

CONCLUSION

The value of the RTS-A predicts the in-hospital mortality of trauma patients better than the RTS, and the TRISS-A is a better mortality predictor compared to the original TRISS in patients with blunt trauma.

Serum albumin and survival in glioblastoma multiforme

Serum albumin is an established predictor of survival in numerous cancers but its prognostic value in central nervous system tumours has not been established. Here we have examined prognostic factors in 685 patients with histologically proven glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the majority of which (n = 549) had pre-operative serum albumin assayed. Mean serum albumin was 34.7 g/l (SD 5.2). Post-operative survival was significantly less for patients with hypoalbuminaemia (<30 g/l, n = 82) than for patients with normal albumin level (median 2.3 vs. 5.6 months, P < 0.001 Log-rank test). Furthermore, patients with lower normal albumin (30-40 g/l, n = 371) had significantly shorter survival compared against patients with albumin in the upper normal range (40-50 g/l, n = 96; median 5.1 vs. 8.8 months, P < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression showed the independent predictors of survival were age, debulking surgery, chemoradiotherapy, and serum albumin (Hazard Ratio 0.97 per g/l, P < 0.005). This study suggests pre-operative serum albumin level is a significant predictor of survival in patients with GBM. Further studies are needed to examine the relationship between albumin and other known prognostic factors, and to determine if pre-operative serum albumin is a clinically useful predictor of survival.

Serum albumin levels as an independent predictor of 4-year mortality in a community-dwelling 80-year-old population

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Although serum albumin levels are associated with mortality in non-institutionalized elderly people under 80 years old, as well as in the institutionalized very elderly, little is known about the relationship in community-dwelling very elderly people. We, therefore, examined the association in a Japanese population of 80-year-old community residents.

METHODS

Serum albumin levels were measured in 672 (267 men, 405 women) out of 1282 80-year-old individuals. Over the following 4 years, the dates and causes of death were recorded from resident registration cards and official death certificates.

RESULTS

Of the above individuals, 107 subjects died (58 men, 49 women: 27 due to cancer, 27 cardiovascular disease, and 22 pneumonia). Survival rates were compared among 4 groups (highest >or=45 g/L, higher than 43-44 g/L, lower than 41-42 g/L, lowest <or=40 g/L). After adjustment for confounding factors, total death or cardiovascular death in the lowest albumin group was 3.1 times and 10.7 times more incident than in the highest albumin group, but there were no differences among groups as regards deaths due to cancer or pneumonia.

CONCLUSION

Serum albumin levels are an independent predictor of mortality due to all-cause or cardiovascular disease, but not of mortality due to cancer or pneumonia in very elderly Japanese community residents.

Sex differences in the association between albumin and all-cause and vascular mortality

BACKGROUND

Low serum albumin levels are associated with cardiovascular disease and mortality risk. This study evaluated the predictive value of low serum albumin for all-cause-mortality in a large Viennese patient cohort and investigated sex differences in the association between serum albumin and mortality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Serum albumin concentrations of 285 930 patients, who attended the General Hospital Vienna between 1992 and 2002, were evaluated and linked with the Austrian Death Registry. The median observation period was 7.4 +/- 4.0 years and the death rate was 16.8%. For Cox regression analysis, albumin levels were divided into deciles, the highest category served as reference value. To analyse associations between albumin and mortality independent of liver function, results were adjusted for cholinesterase, which indicates protein synthesis capacity of the liver.

RESULTS

Hazard ratios for all-cause-mortality increased linearly with decreasing albumin levels from 1.05 in the 9th to 2.98 in the 1st decile. Adjusted for cholinesterase, the relative risk for mortality was still 1.91 in the lowest category. Compared with women, men had an average 50% increased risk of death in almost every decile, adjusting for cholinesterase reduced the sex difference to a 10-20% higher mortality risk for men. In critically ill patients, hazard ratios for all-cause-mortality ranged from 4.5 in the 9th decile to 9.5 in the lowest albumin category.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates a strong inverse association between serum albumin and mortality in a large patient cohort. The predictive value of low albumin was remarkably higher in men than in women.

Sickness behaviour pushed too far--the basis of the syndrome seen in severe protozoal, bacterial and viral diseases and post-trauma

Certain distinctive components of the severe systemic inflammatory syndrome are now well-recognized to be common to malaria, sepsis, viral infections, and post-trauma illness. While their connection with cytokines has been appreciated for some time, the constellation of changes that comprise the syndrome has simply been accepted as an empirical observation, with no theory to explain why they should coexist. New data on the effects of the main pro-inflammatory cytokines on the genetic control of sickness behaviour can be extended to provide a rationale for why this syndrome contains many of its accustomed components, such as reversible encephalopathy, gene silencing, dyserythropoiesis, seizures, coagulopathy, hypoalbuminaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia. It is thus proposed that the pattern of pathology that comprises much of the systemic inflammatory syndrome occurs when one of the usually advantageous roles of pro-inflammatory cytokines – generating sickness behaviour by moderately repressing genes (Dbp, Tef, Hlf, Per1, Per2 and Per3, and the nuclear receptor Rev-erbα) that control circadian rhythm – becomes excessive. Although reversible encephalopathy and gene silencing are severe events with potentially fatal consequences, they can be viewed as having survival advantages through lowering energy demand. In contrast, dyserythropoiesis, seizures, coagulopathy, hypoalbuminaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia may best be viewed as unfortunate consequences of extreme repression of these same genetic controls when the pro-inflammatory cytokines that cause sickness behaviour are produced excessively. As well as casting a new light on the previously unrationalized coexistence of these aspects of systemic inflammatory diseases, this concept is consistent with the case for a primary role for inflammatory cytokines in their pathogenesis across this range of diseases.

Safety and efficacy of albumin administration in trauma

Albumin is one of the oldest known and studied human proteins. It is characterised by diverse physiological and biochemical properties that render it relevant to many aspects of the disordered vascular and cellular functions after trauma. Apart from the ability to maintain the colloid oncotic pressure, human serum albumin has multiple effects, including antioxidant activity and binding affinity for drugs and toxic substances, inhibition of apoptosis and modulation of trauma-induced inflammatory response. According to the current state of knowledge, there are conflicting results regarding the benefits of albumin administration in critically ill patients. Further investigations are warranted to resolve the continued uncertainty about the safety and efficacy of human serum albumin in specific clinical circumstances and selected populations of severely injured patients.

Evaluation of effects of ischaemia on the albumin cobalt binding (ACB) assay in patients exposed to trauma

BACKGROUND

In the emergency department (ED), the diagnosis of acute myocardial ischaemia is very difficult because of the absence of a rapid, reliable diagnostic test. The albumin cobalt binding (ACB) assay is a good candidate as a marker for for detection of myocardial ischaemia, as it is an easy and rapid test. To date, however, the way in which alterations in metal binding sites of human serum albumin depend on ischaemic events has not been reported in detail.

METHODS

We studied 92 patients admitted to the ED within 1 hour after exposure to trauma. Trauma patients divided into two groups according to their Injury Severity Score (ISS): group 1 comprised mildly injured patients who had ISS trauma score <15 (n = 60), and group 2 comprised moderately injured patients with ISS trauma score >15 (n = 32). The blood specimens of 30 healthy volunteers were studied as a control group.

RESULTS

Group 2 showed significantly increased ACB levels (0.63 (0.18) absorbance units (ABSU)) compared with group 1 (0.54 (0.14) ABSU) (p<0.05) and controls (0.39 (0.05) ABSU) (p<0.01). Group 1 showed significantly enhanced ACB values compared with controls (0.54 (0.14) v 0.39 (0.05) ABSU) (p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Consequently, trauma enhances ACB levels, which may affect the diagnostic performance of the ACB assay, and this effect can limit the ability of the assay for detection of myocardial ischaemia in patients exposed to trauma.

Prognostic value of serum albumin combined with serum C-reactive protein levels in older hospitalized patients: continuing importance of serum albumin

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Although both serum albumin and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are separately recognized as predictors of adverse outcomes in many illnesses, the predictive value of their combination for adverse outcomes has not been evaluated. We therefore sought to examine the prognostic value of serum albumin for in-hospital mortality in the presence or absence of severe inflammation, as indicated by high CRP levels.

METHODS

In this cohort study, we measured serum albumin and CRP levels in 1638 older patients (aged 65 years or older) hospitalized for medical problems, and examined their utility, both separately and in combination, for predicting in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

In separate analyses of CRP and albumin, both high CRP levels (> or =5 mg/dl) and hypoalbuminemia (<3.5 g/dl) were associated with risk of in-hospital death. After dividing participants into four groups based on CRP and albumin levels (<5 mg/dl CRP and <3.5 mg/dl albumin), subjects with severe inflammation (CRP > or =5 mg/dl) and hypoalbuminemia were associated with an adjusted relative risk (ARR) of 3.8 for in-hospital mortality when compared with the reference (high albumin and low CRP). Even in the absence of severe inflammation, the presence of severe hypoalbuminemia was associated with an ARR of 2.6 for in-hospital mortality, when compared with patients without hypoalbuminemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Both serum CRP and albumin levels are predictors of in-hospital mortality. However, high serum albumin levels may have a protective effect in older patients, regardless of degree of inflammation. Serum albumin levels remain a useful predictor for in-hospital mortality in older hospitalized patients.

Clinical laboratory findings associated with in-hospital mortality

The diagnostic approach and the clinical management of critically ill patients is challenging. The recognition of biomarkers related to in-hospital mortality is of importance for identification of patients at increased risk of death. Many prediction models assessing the severity of illness and likelihood of hospital survival were developed using logistic regression analyses. These models include several laboratory parameters, such as white blood cell counts, serum bilirubin, serum albumin, blood glucose, serum electrolytes and markers which reflect acid-base disturbances. Recently, several other biomarkers, including troponin, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), N-terminal proBNP, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, cholesterol and coagulation related markers have emerged as clinically useful tools for risk stratification and mortality prediction of heterogeneous and more specific subgroups of critically ill patients. More investigations are required to verify whether risk stratification based on mortality-related biomarkers may translate into targeted treatment strategies to improve clinical outcome of the critical illness. Biomarkers which are related to in-hospital mortality are highlighted in the current review.

The anion gap does not accurately screen for lactic acidosis in emergency department patients

INTRODUCTION

Lactic acidosis portends a poor prognosis in trauma, sepsis, and other shock states and is useful for triaging and resuscitating emergency department (ED) patients. The authors sought to determine whether the AG is a reliable screen for lactic acidosis when applied specifically in the ED setting.

METHODS

The authors performed a retrospective cohort study over a seven month period. Subjects were all ED patients that had a serum lactate obtained. Sensitivity analyses of the AG for detecting presence of lactic acidosis were calculated for the traditional AG normal value (AG <12) and for the lower AG normal value when using newer ion selective electrode assays (AG <6).

RESULTS

Serum lactate levels were ordered in the ED on 440 occasions. 137 samples were excluded by protocol. Using an AG cutoff of 12, the sensitivity for detecting lactic acidosis was 58.2%, specificity was 81.0%, and the negative predictive value was 89.7%. Using the AG cutoff of 6, the sensitivity was 93.2%, the specificity was 17.3%, and the negative predictive value was 91.8%.

CONCLUSIONS

The traditional definition of AG >12 was insensitive for the presence of lactic acidosis. Using the revised AG of >6 is more sensitive but non-specific for lactic acidosis. The authors conclude that employing the AG as a screen for LA may be inappropriate in ED patients. Instead, they recommend ordering a serum lactate immediately upon suspicion of a shock state. A prospective study to confirm these findings is needed.

The formation and rapid clearance of a truncated albumin species in a critically ill patient

INTRODUCTION

Hypoalbuminemia is known to occur in critically ill patients and is associated with increased mortality. We observed a potentially novel, partial explanation for the hypoalbuminemia noticed in a severely traumatized patient.

CASE REPORT

We report of a severely, multi-system traumatized patient in whom hypoalbuminemia was present (1-2 g/dl). The plasma albumin (HSA) was analyzed by liquid chromatography/positive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. A high percentage of a truncated albumin that lost its carboxy terminal amino acid leucine (HSA-L) associated with a 10-fold increase in plasma carboxypeptidase A (CPA) activity (R(2)=0.994) were found. We estimated the half life of this truncated albumin species to be <80 h.

CONCLUSIONS

The increased CPA activity encountered following a traumatic event and subsequent rapid clearance of the resulting HSA-L from plasma might be a contributing factor to the hypoalbuminemia observed in the critically ill patients.

Admission Hyperglycemia and Other Risk Factors as Predictors of Hospital Mortality in a Medical ICU Population

BACKGROUND

Tight glycemic control is recommended for patients in the ICU, as hyperglycemia is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

DESIGN

Observational cohort of patients admitted to a 12-bed, inner-city, medical ICU (MICU).

SUBJECTS

A total of 1,185 of 1,506 patients from July 1, 1999, to December 31, 2002, selected based on a diagnosis other than diabetic ketoacidosis or glycemia > 280 mg/dL or < 80 mg/dL.

PURPOSES

To determine if the highest serum glucose level within 24 h after ICU admission is associated with increased hospital mortality when adjusted for confounders.

MEASUREMENTS

Age, gender, race, worst values within 24 h after ICU admission to construct the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score, and highest glucose within 24 h after ICU admission. Hospital mortality was the primary outcome. Admitting diagnosis, MICU length of stay (LOS), and hospital LOS were obtained. Glucose, albumin (n = 867), and lactic acid (n = 319) were stratified for analysis.

ANALYSIS

Univariate analysis identified factors included in the multivariate model.

RESULTS

Patients were predominantly African-American (79%) and men (56%; mean age, 49.2 years). The mean ICU admission highest glucose level was 139 +/- 43.7 mg/dL (+/- SD). MICU LOS and hospital LOS were 6.2 days and 12.9 days, respectively, and 50% of patients received mechanical ventilation. MICU and hospital mortality were 18% and 20%, respectively; standardized mortality ratio was 66%. On univariate analysis, survivors (n = 945) and nonsurvivors (n = 240) showed APACHE II score, mechanical ventilation, hypoalbuminemia, lactic acidemia, and logistic organ dysfunction system score to be hospital mortality predictors; however, the highest admission serum glucose level was not. Logistic regression estimated APACHE II score/per point (odds ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.02 to 1.11), mechanical ventilation (odds ratio, 3.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.34 to 6.96), severe hypoalbuminemia (< 2 g/dL) [odds ratio, 2.98; 95% confidence interval, 1.3 to 7.02], and severe lactic acidemia (> or = 8 mmol/L) [odds ratio, 7.3; 95% confidence interval, 2.14 to 24.9], but not ICU admission hyperglycemia, to be associated with hospital mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Conventional factors of disease severity, but not highest glucose value during the first 24 h after ICU admission, predict hospital mortality in an inner-city MICU.

Insulin prevents liver damage and preserves liver function in lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxemic rats

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Liver integrity and function are crucial for survival of patients suffering from trauma, operations or infections. Insulin decreased mortality and prevented the incidence of multi organ failure and infection in critically ill patients. The aim of the present study was to determine whether insulin exerts positive effects on hepatic homeostasis and function during endotoxemia.

METHODS

Endotoxemic rats received either saline or insulin. Hepatic morphology and function was determined by measuring the effect of insulin on liver proteins, enzymes, hepatocyte apoptosis and proliferation including caspases-3 and -9 and Bcl-2. Intrahepatic ATP, glucose and lactate concentration were determined by bioluminescence. To determine possible molecular changes the effect of insulin on hepatic cytokine mRNA and gene profile analysis were assessed.

RESULTS

Insulin significantly improved hepatic protein synthesis by increasing albumin and decreasing c-reactive protein, P<0.05. Insulin attenuated hepatic damage by decreasing AST and ALT, P<0.05. Improved liver morphology was due to decreased hepatocyte apoptosis along with decreased caspase-3 concentration and increased hepatocyte proliferation along with Bcl-2 concentration, P<0.05. Insulin decreased hepatic IL-1beta, IL-6 and MIF mRNA and improved hepatic glucose metabolism and glycolysis, P<0.05. GeneChip analysis revealed an anti-inflammatory effect of insulin.

CONCLUSIONS

Insulin improves hepatic integrity, hepatic glucose metabolism and hepatic function by increasing cell survival and attenuating the hepatic inflammatory response in endotoxemic rats.

Differences in mortality on the basis of laboratory parameters in an unselected population at the Emergency Department

The objective of this study was to relate multiple laboratory results of initial blood gas analysis in patients visiting the emergency department to mortality. A total of 1806 adult patients visiting the emergency department for any reason, who underwent blood gas analysis, were included in this study. The results of nine laboratory parameters (ionised calcium, potassium, sodium, glucose, lactate, pH, pCO

Admission Serum Albumin is Predicitve of Outcome in Critically Ill Trauma Patients

There is a paucity of data evaluating serum albumin on admission as a predictor of outcome in adult trauma patients. Our objectives were to evaluate whether or not hypoalbuminemia on admission is a predictor of adverse outcome in trauma patients. Prospective data was collected daily on 1023 patients over a 2-year period. Patients were stratified by serum albumin level on admission, age, gender, injury severity, and comorbid conditions. Outcome was measured by ICU and hospital length of stay, ventilator days, incidence of infection, and mortality. Student t test, χ2, and multilinear regression analysis were used to determine level of significance. Blunt injuries accounted for the majority (78%) of the admissions. The mean age of the study population was 43 ± 21 years with a mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 21.4 ± 12. The majority of patients were male (74.5%). The mean albumin level on admission was 2.9 ± 1.8. Five hundred ninety-three (58%) patients were admitted with a serum albumin level of ≥2.6 as compared to 430 patients (42%) with an admission albumin level of <2.6. Patients with a lower serum albumin level were found to have a significantly greater ICU (17.1 vs 14.2 days) and hospital length of stay (17.3 vs 20.1 days, P < 0.05), ventilator days (11.1 vs 13.5 days, P < 0.05), and mortality ( P = 0.008) when matched for age and injury severity. The relative risk of infection and mortality increased greater than 2.5-fold in patients with increased age and low serum albumin when analyzed by multilinear regression analysis, P < 0.001. An admission serum albumin level of <2.6 g/dL is a significant independent predictor of morbidity and mortality in trauma patients. The combination of increased age and low albumin level was most predictive of infection and mortality. Early nutrition should be considered in these high-risk patients.