Association Between Serum Albumin and the Length of Hospital Stay Among Patients With Acute Heart Failure

• Published in: Biological research for nursing 2025-01, Vol.27 (1), p.37-46
• Main Authors: Pokhrel Bhattarai, Sunita, Dzikowicz, Dillon J., Carey, Mary G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Heart Failure - physiopathology; Humans; Length of Stay - statistics & numerical data; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Serum Albumin - analysis
• ISSN: 1099-8004; 1552-4175; 1552-4175
• DOI: 10.1177/10998004241262530

Introduction: Albumin plays a vital role in improving osmotic pressure and hemodynamics. A lower serum albumin level may cause pulmonary congestion and edema and contribute to myocardial dysfunction, diuresis resistance, and fluid retention in acute heart failure. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that AHF patients with normal serum albumin have shorter hospital stays. Methods: Using Electronic Medical Records, patients admitted from May 2020 through May 2021 aged >18, ICD-10, and positive Framingham Heart Failure Diagnostic Criteria were included. We excluded patients without albumin records and eGFRs less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m2. Prolonged hospitalization was defined as >8 days of hospitalization. Results: During index emergency department visits, patients were symptomatic (New York Heart Association), aged median of 70 years (Interquartile range (IQR) 18), 59% (n = 103) were male, predominantly White (73%, n = 128), and had a high Charleston Comorbidity index score [5, IQR (4–7)]. Nearly one-fourth (23%, n = 41) of the patients had