[In-hospital mortality and stay duration of internal medicine patients: prognosis value of biochemical markers commonly performed on admission].
OBJECTIVE
Little is known about prognosis values of biochemical markers in internal medicine patients. We have examined retrospectively the relationship between inhospital mortality or stay duration and several biochemical markers commonly performed on admission in internal medicine patients.


METHODS
Among all stays unplanned in our department during the year 2004, we collected data about 8 blood biochemical markers (sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, anion gap, urea nitrogen, creatinin, proteins), performed between the day before and the day after admission. Mixed Cox regression models computed hazard ratios for mortality associated with biochemical markers concentration. The relationship between biochemical markers concentration and duration stay was investigated in mixed linear regression models.


RESULTS
In 2004 our department totalized 1199 unplanned stays by 1054 distinct patients (age: 69.9+/-19.2 y, women: 59.2%), among which 59 deceased during stay. Biochemical markers were available for 977 (81.5%) stays (stay duration: 17.5+/-16.0 days). Inhospital mortality was significantly associated with plasma concentration on admission of potassium, proteins, anion gap and with urea nitrogen/creatinin ratio. Among survivors, duration stay was significantly associated with plasma concentration on admission of sodium, chlore, and anion gap.


CONCLUSIONS
Biochemical markers performed on admission need particular attention as they provide immediate information about short term prognosis of internal medicine patients.
Kettaneh
A
A
Service de Médecine Interne, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie-Paris, 75012 Paris, France. adrien.kattaneh@sat.aphp-paris.fr
Mario
N
N
Fardet
L
L
Flick
D
D
Fozing
T
T
Tiev
K
K
Tolédano
C
C
Cabane
J
J
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D015415:Biomarkers