title: The prognostic significance of serum albumin in patients with acute decompensated systolic heart failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure, mortality is still high. It is important to identify high-risk patients. In this study, we investigated whether the serum albumin level is a useful predictor of annual mortality in patients with acute decompensated systolic heart failure (ADSHF).
  
  
  METHODS
  One-hundred and thirty-five consecutive patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 40% who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of ADSHF were included in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether or not hypoalbuminaemia was present, and the relationship between hypoalbuminaemia and mortality was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the study population was 67 ± 14 years and 54% of the patients were male. Hypoalbuminaemia was detected in 69.6% of the patients. The systolic blood pressure, haemoglobin levels, lymphocyte count, cholesterol and sodium values were low and the direct bilirubin and CRP levels were elevated in the hypoalbuminaemia group. The one-year mortality was 37% in the hypoalbuminaemia group and 12% in the group with normal albuminaemia (P = 0.003). Multivariate analysis showed that hypoalbuminaemia, decreased haemoglobin levels and increased creatinine values were independent predictors of mortality (P < 0.05). A serum albumin cut-off value of 3.10 g/dl predicted 1-year mortality with a sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 70% in patients with ADSHF disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All-cause annual mortality rates are significantly increased in ADSHF patients with hypoalbuminaemia. The serum albumin level, as well as the creatinine and haemoglobin values, may be helpful biomarkers in this group.
authors: Nihat
authors: N
authors: Polat
authors: Mesut
authors: M
authors: Aydin
authors: Abdulkadir
authors: A
authors: Yildiz
authors: Halit
authors: H
authors: Acet
authors: Mehmet Ata
authors: MA
authors: Akil
authors: Mehmet Zihni
authors: MZ
authors: Bilik
authors: Muhammed
authors: M
authors: Demir
authors: Mehmet Ali
authors: MA
authors: Isik
authors: Hasan
authors: H
authors: Kaya
authors: Sait
authors: S
authors: Alan
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D054143:Heart Failure, Systolic / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012709:Serum Albumin