Hypoalbuminemia in the first 24h of admission is associated with organ dysfunction in burned patients.
OBJECTIVE
Hypoalbuminemia is a common finding in burned patients, but its association with increased morbidity and mortality has not been well established. We assessed whether hypoalbuminemia in the first 24h of admission is associated with organ dysfunction in patients with severe burns.


METHODS
For a two year period (2008-2009), we reviewed the records of burn adult patients with a total body surface area 20% admitted in our unit within the first 24h of injury. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to assess hypoalbuminemia as an independent predictor of organ dysfunction.


RESULTS
56 subjects were analyzed. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that hypoalbuminemia in the first 24h of admission was an independent predictor of organ dysfunction. Serum albumin concentration ≤ 30 g/L was associated with a two-fold increase in organ dysfunction [SOFA scores at day 0 (p=0.005), day 1 (p=0.005) and first week mean values (p=0.004)], but not with mortality (p=0.061).


CONCLUSIONS
Hypoalbuminemia is associated with organ dysfunction in burned patients. Unlike unmodifiable predictors such as age, burn surface and inhalation burn, correction of hypoalbuminemia might represent a goal for a future trial in burn patients.
Burn Intensive Care Unit, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada. roberto.eljaiek@umontreal.ca
Roberto
R
Eljaiek
Marc-Jacques
MJ
Dubois
D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D034141:Hypoalbuminemia / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors