Impact of Hyperoncotic Albumin on Duration of Vasopressor Support in Septic Shock: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

BACKGROUND: While albumin has not been shown to reduce mortality in sepsis and septic shock, a tertiary analysis of a large trial suggested that it may reduce the duration of vasopressor use in septic shock. OBJECTIVE: We sought to test if 25% albumin administration was associated with reduced cumulative vasopressor use in septic shock in a real-world setting. METHODS: This was a retrospective, propensity score-matched cohort study of septic shock in which patients receiving albumin were compared with a matched cohort of those not receiving albumin. The primary outcome was days alive and free of vasopressors. RESULTS: The matched cohort included 335 patients who received albumin and 335 who did not. The days alive and free of vasopressors were similar between the albumin and no albumin groups: 17.4 (0-24.8) versus 19.4 (0-25.3); P = 0.160. Similarly, in-hospital mortality was no different between groups (46.9% vs 44.8%; P = 0.587). Receipt of albumin was associated with fewer ventilator-free and intensive care unit (ICU)-free days: 0 (0-19) versus 11 (0-23), P = 0.007, and 0 (0-18) versus 10.6 (0-22.1), P = 0.002, respectively. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Albumin use in septic shock was not associated with additional days alive and free of vasopressors or in-hospital mortality. The finding of fewer ventilator- and ICU-free days may reflect selection of patients who were critically ill for longer periods of time before or after albumin administration. Additional study is needed to clarify the impact that timing may have on the effectiveness of albumin in septic shock.

An isolated reduction of the FEV3/FVC ratio is an indicator of mild lung injury.

BACKGROUND: The FEV3/FVC ratio is not discussed in the American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society (ATS/ERS) guidelines for lung function interpretation in spite of narrow confidence limits of normal and its association with smoking. We sought to determine whether a reduction in only the FEV3/FVC ratio was associated with physiologic changes compared with subjects with normal FEV1/FVC and FEV3/FVC ratios. METHODS: Lung volumes and diffusion were studied in individuals with concomitant spirometry. Patients with restriction on total lung capacity (TLC) were excluded, as were repeat tests on the same patient. A total of 13,302 subjects were divided into three groups: (1) normal FEV1/FVC and FEV3/FVC (n = 7,937); (2) only a reduced FEV3/FVC (n = 840); and (3) reduced FEV1/FVC (n = 4,525). RESULTS: Subjects with only a reduced FEV3/FVC compared with those with normal FEV1/FVC and FEV3/FVC ratios had higher mean % predicted TLC (99.1% vs 97.1%, P < .001), residual volume (RV) (109.4% vs 102.3%, P < .001), and RV/TLC ratio (110.1% vs 105.4%, P < .001). They had lower mean % predicted FEV1 (82.6% vs 90.2%, P < .001), inspiratory capacity (94.5% vs 98.2%, P < .001), and diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide (Dlco) (78.3% vs 81.9%, P < .001). Their mean BMI was lower (30.8 vs 31.5, P < .005), they were older (61.2 vs 57.2, P < .001), and more likely male (52.0% vs 40.4%, P < .001), with no racial differences. Comparing this group to those with a reduced FEV1/FVC, similar but greater differences were noted in all of the previous measurements, though mean age and sex were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: The FEV3/FVC ratio should be routinely reported on spirometry. An isolated reduction may indicate an early injury pattern of hyperinflation, air trapping, and loss of Dlco.