Is hyperchloremia associated with mortality in critically ill patients? A prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to determine if acid-base variables are associated with hospital mortality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective cohort study took place in a university-affiliated hospital intensive care unit (ICU). One hundred seventy-five patients admitted to the ICU during the period of February to May 2007 were included in the study. We recorded clinical data and acid-base variables from all patients at ICU admission. A logistic regression model was constructed using Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, age, and the acid-base variables.

RESULTS

Individually, none of the variables appear to be good predictors of hospital mortality. However, using the multivariate stepwise logistic regression, we had a model with good discrimination containing SOFA score, age, chloride, and albumin (area under receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.73-0.87).

CONCLUSIONS

Hypoalbuminemia and hyperchloremia were associated with mortality. This result involving chloride is something new and should be tested in future studies.