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Objective To determine whether hypoalbuminemia is an independent risk factor for poor outcome in the acutely ill, and to assess the potential of exogenous albumin administration for improving outcomes in hypoalbuminemic patients. Summary Background Data Hypoalbuminemia is associated with poor outcomes in acutely ill patients, but whether this association is causal has remained unclear. Trials investigating albumin therapy to correct hypoalbuminemia have proven inconclusive. Methods A meta-analysis was conducted of 90 cohort studies with 291,433 total patients evaluating hypoalbuminemia as an outcome predictor by multivariate analysis and, separately, of nine prospective controlled trials with 535 total patients on correcting hypoalbuminemia. Results Hypoalbuminemia was a potent, dose-dependent independent predictor of poor outcome. Each 10-g/L decline in serum albumin concentration significantly raised the odds of mortality by 137%, morbidity by 89%, prolonged intensive care unit and hospital stay respectively by 28% and 71%, and increased resource utilization by 66%. The association between hypoalbuminemia and poor outcome appeared to be independent of both nutritional status and inflammation. Analysis of dose-dependency in controlled trials of albumin therapy suggested that complication rates may be reduced when the serum albumin level attained during albumin administration exceeds 30 g/L. Conclusions Hypoalbuminemia is strongly associated with poor clinical outcomes. Further well-designed trials are needed to characterize the effects of albumin therapy in hypoalbuminemic patients. In the interim, there is no compelling basis to withhold albumin therapy if it is judged clinically appropriate.
SCOPUS: le.j
ICU patients with acute renal failure should be managed using a multidisciplinary team approach led by an intensivist. Good collaboration and communication between intensivists and renal and other specialists is essential to insure the best possible care for ICU patients with renal disease.
Severe sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the critically ill patient. Management involves identification and treatment of the underlying causative infection, with antimicrobial agents and surgery where necessary, haemodynamic resuscitation with fluids and vasoactive agents, steroids (for septic shock) and immunomodulation with drotrecogin-alpha (activated), where not contraindicated. Every effort must be made to identify sepsis early so as to optimise the patient's chances of a good outcome.
Albumin administration was associated with decreased survival in this population of acutely ill patients. Further prospective randomized controlled trials are needed to examine the effects of albumin administration in sub-groups of acutely ill patients.
The extraordinary costs involved in medical innovation leads, inevitably, to financial restrictions. Doctors need to involve themselves in the decision making process, difficult as this may be. Otherwise, health administrators will assume the full responsibility for decision making, as has become the case in the United States. Doctors must be particularly wary that financial restrictions impinge on neither medical progress--through subtle cut-backs--nor on the fundamental ethical principals--such as a decision to reduce the intensity of care in patients with complications.