Hypoalbuminemia predicts clinical outcome in patients with type B acute aortic dissection after endovascular therapy

Am J Emerg Med. 2016 Aug;34(8):1369-72. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2016.03.067. Epub 2016 Apr 4.

Abstract

Background: Few studies have reported that serum albumin (SA) levels on admission were associated with increased risk of long-term outcomes in patients with type B acute aortic dissection (AAD). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of admission levels of SA on survival among patients with type B AAD undergoing endovascular therapy (EVT).

Methods: A total of 131 patients with type B AAD undergoing EVT were retrospectively enrolled and followed up for 2.1years. They were divided into hypoalbuminemia and nonhypoalbuminemia groups. We analyzed the incidence of inhospital complications and long-term mortality. Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to investigate the associations between SA levels and survival.

Results: Among 131 type B AAD patients, hypoalbuminemia was detected in 61 (46.6%) at admission. Compared to those without hypoalbuminemia, patients with hypoalbuminemia did not have higher inhospital complications; however, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that they did have a significantly lower survival rate (73.8% vs 92.5%; log-rank χ(2)=9.8; P=.002). Multivariable Cox regression analysis further revealed that hypoalbuminemia was an independent predictor of long-term mortality among patients with type B AAD (hazard ratio, 4.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.36-13.47; P=.013), over 2.1years.

Conclusions: Hypoalbuminemia is common in type B AAD patients and is independently associated with increased risk of long-term death. Renal dysfunction may be the main pathophysiological mechanism underlying hypoalbuminemia in patients with type B AAD.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / surgery*
  • Aortic Dissection / surgery*
  • China / epidemiology
  • Endovascular Procedures / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Hospital Mortality / trends
  • Humans
  • Hypoalbuminemia / epidemiology
  • Hypoalbuminemia / etiology*
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Survival Rate / trends
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome