Hypoalbuminemia in critically ill children.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether hypoalbuminemia on admission is a predictor of adverse outcome in critically ill children.


METHODS
Retrospective medical record review.


METHODS
A 14-bed medical and surgical pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).


METHODS
All patients admitted to the PICU from January 1, 1998, through December 31, 2000, under the care of the PICU team or trauma service and whose albumin level was measured were potential subjects. One hundred fifty-five patients were divided into 4 groups on the basis of age and appropriate albumin level for that age group. The groups of hypoalbuminemic patients were combined (hypoalbuminemia group) and compared with the combined group of patients with albumin levels above the reference cutoff (normal albumin level group).


METHODS
Serum albumin level.


METHODS
Length of PICU and hospital stays, receipt and length of ventilatory support, survival, pediatric risk of mortality score, mortality risk, and number of organ failures.


RESULTS
Controlling for mortality risk, the hypoalbuminemia group had a longer average stay in the PICU (8.08 vs 4.41 days; 95% confidence interval [CI] for difference, 1.02-6.32) and the hospital (11.36 vs 6.63 days; 95% CI for difference, 1.31-8.16) than did the normal albumin level group. The hypoalbuminemia group had a lower survival rate (odds ratio, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.02-0.46) and a higher number of organ failures (1.38 vs 0.65; 95% CI for difference, 0.40-1.04).


CONCLUSIONS
Admission hypoalbuminemia is a significant marker of morbidity and mortality in critically ill children.
Horowitz
Ira N
IN
Department of Pediatrics, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois, USA. ira.horowitz@atlantichealth.org
Tai
Kenneth
K
D000418:Albumins / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D034141:Hypoalbuminemia; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000418:Albumins