Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was reported to be associated with mortality in heart failure patients. We aimed to evaluate admission BUN concentration in a heterogeneous critically ill patient collective ...admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) for prognostic relevance.
A total of 4176 medical patients (67±13 years) admitted to a German ICU between 2004 and 2009 were included. Follow-up of patients was performed retrospectively between May 2013 and November 2013. Association of admission BUN and both intra-hospital and long-term mortality were investigated by Cox regression. An optimal cut-off was calculated by means of the Youden-Index.
Patients with higher admission BUN concentration were older, clinically sicker and had more pronounced laboratory signs of multi-organ failure including kidney failure. Admission BUN was associated with adverse long-term mortality (HR 1.013; 95%CI 1.012-1.014; p<0.001). An optimal cut-off was calculated at 28 mg/dL which was associated with adverse outcome even after correction for APACHE2 (HR 1.89; 95%CI 1.59-2.26; p<0.001), SAPS2 (HR 1.85; 95%CI 1.55-2.21; p<0.001) and several parameters including creatinine in an integrative model (HR 3.34; 95%CI 2.89-3.86; p<0.001). We matched 614 patients with admission BUN >28 mg/dL to case-controls ≤ 28mg/dL corrected for APACHE2 scores: BUN above 28 mg/dL remained associated with adverse outcome in a paired analysis with the difference being 5.85% (95%CI 1.23-10.47%; p = 0.02).
High BUN concentration at admission was robustly associated with adverse outcome in critically ill patients admitted to an ICU, even after correction for co-founders including renal failure. BUN might constitute an independent, easily available and important parameter for risk stratification in the critically ill.
The lactate/albumin ratio has been reported to be associated with mortality in pediatric patients with sepsis. We aimed to evaluate the lactate/albumin ratio for its prognostic relevance in a larger ...collective of critically ill (adult) patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). A total of 348 medical patients admitted to a German ICU for sepsis between 2004 and 2009 were included. Follow-up of patients was performed retrospectively between May 2013 and November 2013. The association of the lactate/albumin ratio (cut-off 0.15) and both in-hospital and post-discharge mortality was investigated. An optimal cut-off was calculated by means of Youden's index. The lactate/albumin ratio was elevated in non-survivors (
< 0.001). Patients with an increased lactate/albumin ratio were of similar age, but clinically in a poorer condition and had more pronounced laboratory signs of multi-organ failure. An increased lactate/albumin ratio was associated with adverse in-hospital mortality. An optimal cut-off of 0.15 was calculated and was associated with adverse long-term outcome even after correction for APACHE2 and SAPS2. We matched 99 patients with a lactate/albumin ratio >0.15 to case-controls with a lactate/albumin ratio <0.15 corrected for APACHE2 scores: The group with a lactate/albumin ratio >0.15 evidenced adverse in-hospital outcome in a paired analysis with a difference of 27% (95%CI 10-43%;
< 0.01). Regarding long-term mortality, again, patients in the group with a lactate/albumin ratio >0.15 showed adverse outcomes (
< 0.001). An increased lactate/albumin ratio was significantly associated with an adverse outcome in critically ill patients admitted to an ICU, even after correction for confounders. The lactate/albumin ratio might constitute an independent, readily available, and important parameter for risk stratification in the critically ill.
MELD-XI, an adapted version of Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score excluding INR, was reported to predict outcomes e.g. in patients with acute heart failure. We aimed to evaluate MELD-XI ...in critically ill patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) for prognostic relevance.
A total of 4381 medical patients (66±14 years, 2862 male) admitted to a German ICU between 2004 and 2009 were included and retrospectively investigated. Admission diagnoses were e.g. myocardial infarction (n = 2034), sepsis (n = 694) and heart failure (n = 688). We divided our patients in two cohorts basing on their MELD-XI score and evaluated the MELD-XI score for its prognostic relevance regarding short-term and long-term survival. Optimal cut-offs were calculated by means of the Youden-Index.
Patients with a MELD-XI score >12 had pronounced laboratory signs of organ failure and more comorbidities. MELD-XI >12 was associated with an increase in short-term (27% vs 6%; HR 4.82, 95%CI 3.93-5.93; p<0.001) and long-term (HR 3.69, 95%CI 3.20-4.25; p<0.001) mortality. In a univariate Cox regression analysis for all patients MELD-XI was associated with increased long-term mortality (changes per score point: HR 1.06, 95%CI 1.05-1.07; p<0.001) and remained to be associated with increased mortality after correction in a multivariate regression analysis for renal failure, liver failure, lactate concentration, blood glucose concentration, oxygenation and white blood count (HR 1.04, 95%CI 1.03-1.06; p<0.001). Optimal cut-off for the overall cohort was 11 and varied remarkably depending on the admission diagnosis: myocardial infarction (9), pulmonary embolism (9), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (17) and pneumonia (17). We performed ROC-analysis and compared the AUC: SAPS2 (0.78, 95%CI 0.76-0.80; p<0.0001) and APACHE (0.76, 95%CI 0.74-0.78; p<0.003) score were superior to MELD-XI (0.71, 95%CI 0.68-0.73) for prediction of mortality.
The easily calculable MELD-XI score is a robust and reliable tool to predict both intra-ICU and long-term mortality in critically ill medical patients admitted to an ICU. Optimal cut-off values for MELD-XI scores seem to depend on the primary disease and need to be validated in future prospective studies. Compared to SAPS2 and APACHE score, MELD-XI lacks precision but might have comparable and even additive value, as it is easily available and independent of subjective values.
Abstract Purpose The purpose of the study was to determine whether treatment preferences in patients' advance directives (ADs) are associated with life-supporting treatments received during ...end-of-life care in the intensive care unit (ICU). Material and methods This is a retrospective cohort study, including patients who died in 4 ICUs of a university hospital in Germany. Patients with ADs were matched with 2 patients each without ADs using propensity scores. Results Sixty-four (13%) of 477 patients had ADs, written a median of 109 weeks before admission. Five categories of applicability conditions were identified, most of them difficult to interpret in the ICU (eg, “advanced brain impairment” or “imminent death”). Advance directives contained a number of treatment refusals. Specifically, 63 of 64 refused “life-sustaining measures.” Compared to patients without ADs, patients with ADs were less likely to receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (9% vs 23%, P = .029) and more likely to have do-not-resuscitate orders (77% vs 56%, P = .007). Therapy-limiting decisions and ICU length of stay did not differ between those with or without ADs. Conclusions Patients with ADs are less likely to receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation but otherwise receive similar life-sustaining treatments compared to matched patients without ADs. More research is needed to explore reasons for potential noncompliance with patient preferences.
Hyperglycemia is a common condition in critically ill patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). These patients represent an inhomogeneous collective and hyperglycemia might need different ...evaluation depending on the underlying disorder. To elucidate this, we investigated and compared associations of severe hyperglycemia (>200 mg/dL) and mortality in patients admitted to an ICU for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or sepsis as the two most frequent admission diagnoses. From 2006 to 2009, 2551 patients 69 (58-77) years; 1544 male; 337 patients suffering from type 2 diabetes (T2DM)) who were admitted because of either AMI or sepsis to an ICU in a tertiary care hospital were investigated retrospectively. Follow-up of patients was performed between May 2013 and November 2013. In a Cox regression analysis, maximum glucose concentration at the day of admission was associated with mortality in the overall cohort (HR = 1.006, 95% CI: 1.004-1.009;
< 0.001) and in patients suffering from myocardial infarction (HR = 1.101, 95% CI: 1.075-1.127;
< 0.001) but only in trend in patients admitted to an ICU for sepsis (HR = 1.030, 95% CI: 0.998-1.062;
= 0.07). Severe hyperglycemia was associated with adverse intra-ICU mortality in the overall cohort (23% vs. 13%;
< 0.001) and patients admitted for AMI (15% vs. 5%;
< 0.001) but not for septic patients (39% vs. 40%;
= 0.48). A medical history of type 2 diabetes (
= 337; 13%) was not associated with increased intra-ICU mortality (15% vs. 15%;
= 0.93) but in patients with severe hyperglycemia and/or a known medical history of type 2 diabetes considered in combination, an increased mortality in AMI patients (intra-ICU 5% vs. 13%;
< 0.001) but not in septic patients (intra-ICU 38% vs. 41%;
= 0.53) could be evidenced. The presence of hyperglycemia in critically ill patients has differential impact within the different etiological groups. Hyperglycemia in AMI patients might identify a sicker patient collective suffering from pre-diabetes or undiagnosed diabetes with its' known adverse consequences, especially in the long-term. Hyperglycemia in sepsis might be considered as adaptive survival mechanism to hypo-perfusion and consecutive lack of glucose in peripheral cells. AMI patients with hyperglycemic derailment during an ICU-stay should be closely followed-up and extensively screened for diabetes to improve patients' outcome.
Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has a sigificant impact on mortality in acute respiratory failure (ARF). Predictive parameters for mortality are of high interest.
We retrospectively analyzed 3759 blood ...gas analysis and clinical parameters of 475 patients presenting with ARF based on acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema and/or pneumonia. The influence of peak arterial oxygen partial pressure levels (PaO2) with respect to its predictive value for in-hopital and long-term mortality was investigated.
Overall intra-hospital mortality was 24%. Peak PaO2 levels in kPa were significantly higher in non-survivors (20.01±10.11) compared to survivors (15.65±6.79, P<0.001). A univariate Cox proportional-hazards analysis for long-term mortality revealed associations with maximum PaO2 levels (overall cohort: HR= 1.02; 95% CI: 1.007-1.03; P=0.003; CPE: HR= 1.02; 95% CI: 0.99-1.04, P=0.05, pneumonia: HR= 1.02; 95% CI: 1-1.4, P=0.02). A PaO2 cut-off value of 13 kiloPascal (kPa) was calculated by means of Youden Index and remained true even after correction for APACHE 2 Score (HR= 1.50; 95% CI: 1.00-2.25; P=0.05) and for PaCO2 (HR= 1.63; 95% CI: 1.14-2.33; P=0.01).
Peak PaO2 levels were associated with worse in-hopital and long-term mortality in patients treated with NIV due to ARF. These findings may indicate that application of high oxygen may be detrimental in such patients.
To assess shock reversal and required fluid volumes in patients with septic shock.
Prospective before and after study comparing three different treatment periods.
Fifty-bed single-center surgical ...intensive care unit.
Consecutive patients with severe sepsis.
Fluid therapy directed at preset hemodynamic goals with hydroxyethyl starch (predominantly 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4) in the first period, 4% gelatin in the second period, and only crystalloids in the third period.
Main outcome was time to shock reversal (serum lactate <2.2 mmol/L and discontinuation of vasopressor use). Hemodynamic goals were mean arterial pressure >70 mm Hg; ScvO2 <70%; central venous pressure >8 mm Hg. Safety outcomes were acute kidney injury defined by Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, and End-stage kidney disease criteria and new need for renal replacement therapy. Hemodynamic measures, serum lactate, and creatinine were comparable at baseline in all study periods (hydroxyethyl starch n = 360, gelatin n = 352, only crystalloids n = 334). Severity scores, hospital length of stay, and intensive care unit or hospital mortality did not differ significantly among groups. All groups showed similar time to shock reversal. More fluid was needed over the first 4 days in the crystalloid group (fluid ratios 1.4:1 crystalloids to hydroxyethyl starch and 1.1:1 crystalloids to gelatin). After day 5, fluid balance was more negative in the crystalloid group. Hydroxyethyl starch and gelatin were independent risk factors for acute kidney injury (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval 2.55, 1.76-3.69 and 1.85, 1.31-2.62, respectively). Patients receiving synthetic colloids received significantly more allogeneic blood products.
Shock reversal was achieved equally fast with synthetic colloids or crystalloids. Use of colloids resulted in only marginally lower required volumes of resuscitation fluid. Both low molecular weight hydroxyethyl starch and gelatin may impair renal function.
Purpose
Changes of lactate concentration over time were reported to be associated with survival in septic patients. We aimed to evaluate delta-lactate (ΔLac) 24 h after admission (Δ24Lac) to an ...intensive care unit (ICU) in critically ill patients for short- and long-term prognostic relevance.
Methods
In total, 26,285 lactate measurements of 2191 patients admitted to a German ICU were analyzed. Inclusion criterion was a lactate concentration at admission above 2.0 mmol/L. Maximum lactate concentrations of day 1 and day 2 were used to calculate Δ24Lac. Follow-up of patients was performed retrospectively. Association of Δ24Lac and both in-hospital and long-term mortality were investigated. An optimal cut-off was calculated by means of the Youden index.
Results
Patients with lower Δ24Lac were of similar age, but clinically sicker. As continuous variable, higher Δ24Lac was associated with decreased in-hospital mortality (per 1% Δ24Lac; HR 0.987 95%CI 0.985–0.990;
p
< 0.001) and an optimal Δ24Lac cut-off was calculated at 19%. Δ24Lac ≤ 19% was associated with both increased in-hospital (15% vs 43%; OR 4.11; 95%CI 3.23–5.21;
p
< 0.001) and long-term mortality (HR 1.54 95%CI 1.28–1.87;
p
< 0.001), even after correction for APACHE II, need for catecholamines and intubation. We matched 256 patients with Δ24Lac ≤ 19% to case–controls > 19% corrected for APACHE II scores, baseline lactate level and sex: Δ24Lac ≤ 19% remained associated with lower in-hospital and long-term survival.
Conclusions
Lower Δ24Lac was robustly associated with adverse outcome in critically ill patients, even after correction for confounders. Δ24Lac might constitute an independent, easily available and important parameter for risk stratification in the critically ill.
Hydroxyethyl starch 200 is associated with renal impairment in sepsis, but hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 and gelatin are considered to be less harmful. We hypothesized that fluid therapy with only ...crystalloids would decrease the incidence of acute kidney injury.
Prospective sequential comparison during intensive care unit stay.
Surgical intensive care unit.
Patients with severe sepsis.
Changes in standard fluid therapy, with predominantly 6% hydroxyethyl starch from January 2005 to June 2005, 4% gelatin from January 2006 to June 2006, and only crystalloids from September 2008 to June 2009.
Acute kidney injury was defined by the presence of at least one RIFLE class; 118 patients received hydroxyethyl starch, 87 patients received gelatin, 141 patients received only crystalloids. Baseline serum creatinine values were similar. Patients received median cumulative doses of 46 (interquartile range, 18-92) mL/kg hydroxyethyl starch and 43 (interquartile range, 18-76) mL/kg gelatin. Total median fluid amounts were 649 (interquartile range, 275-1098) mL/kg in the hydroxyethyl starch group, 525 (237-868) mL/kg in the gelatin group, and 355 (173-911) mL/kg in the crystalloid group. The difference was statistically significant for hydroxyethyl starch after adjustment for multiple testing. Mean daily fluid intake and fluid balance were higher on days 0 and 1 in the crystalloid group. Acute kidney injury occurred in 70% of patients receiving hydroxyethyl starch (adjusted p = .002) and in 68% of patients receiving gelatin (adjusted p = .025) vs. 47% patients receiving crystalloids. Need for renal replacement therapy tended to be higher in the hydroxyethyl starch group (34%; adjusted p = .086) and in the gelatin group (34%; adjusted p = .162) in comparison to the crystalloid group (20%). Intensive care unit and hospital mortality were similar in each group (hydroxyethyl starch: 35% and 43%; gelatin: 26% and 31%; crystalloids: 30% and 37%).
Fluid resuscitation with only crystalloids was equally effective, resulted in a more positive fluid balance only on the first 2 days, and was associated with a lesser incidence of acute kidney injury.
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