Assessment of prescribed vs. achieved fluid balance during continuous renal replacement therapy and mortality outcome.

BACKGROUND: Fluid management during continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) requires accuracy in the prescription of desired patient fluid balance (FBGoal) and precision in the attainable patient fluid balance (FBAchieved). Herein, we examined the association of the gap between prescribed vs. achieved patient fluid balance during CRRT (%FBGap) with hospital mortality in critically ill patients. METHODS: Cohort study of critically ill adults with acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring CRRT and a prescription of negative fluid balance (mean patient fluid balance goal of negative ≥0.5 liters per day). Fluid management parameters included: 1) NUF (net ultrafiltration rate); 2) FBGoal; 3) FBAchieved; and 4) FBGap (% gap of fluid balance achieved vs. goal), all adjusted by patient's weight (kg) and duration of CRRT (hours). RESULTS: Data from 653 patients (median of 102.2 patient-hours of CRRT) were analyzed. Mean (SD) age was 56.7 (14.6) years and 61.9% were male. Hospital mortality rate was 64%. Despite FBGoal was similar in patients who died vs. survived, survivors achieved greater negative fluid balance during CRRT than non-survivors: median FBAchieved -0.25 [-0.52 to -0.05] vs. 0.06 [-0.26 to 0.62] ml/kg/h, p<0.001. Median NUF was lower in patients who died vs. survived: 1.06 [0.63-1.47] vs. 1.22 [0.82-1.69] ml/kg/h, p<0.001, and median %FBGap was higher in patients who died (112.8%, 61.5 to 165.7) vs. survived (64.2%, 30.5 to 91.8), p<0.001. In multivariable models, higher %FBGap was independently associated with increased risk of hospital mortality: aOR (95% CI) 1.01 (1.01-1.02), p<0.001. NUF was not associated with hospital mortality when adjusted by %FBGap and other clinical parameters: aOR 0.96 (0.72-1.28), p = 0.771. CONCLUSIONS: Higher %FBGap was independently associated with an increased risk of hospital mortality in critically ill adults with AKI on CRRT in whom clinicians prescribed negative fluid balance via CRRT. %FBGap represents a novel quality indicator of CRRT delivery that could assist with operationalizing fluid management interventions during CRRT.

5th generation vs 4th generation troponin T in predicting major adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in patients hospitalized for non-cardiac indications: A cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The frequency and implications of an elevated cardiac troponin (4th or 5th generation TnT) in patients outside of the emergency department or presenting with non-cardiac conditions is unclear. METHODS: Consecutive patients aged 18 years or older admitted for a primary non-cardiac condition who had the 4th generation TnT drawn had the 5th generation TnT run on the residual blood sample. Primary and secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality (ACM) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) respectively at 1 year. RESULTS: 918 patients were included (mean age 59.8 years, 55% male) in the cohort. 69% had elevated 5th generation TnT while 46% had elevated 4th generation TnT. 5th generation TnT was more sensitive and less specific than 4th generation TnT in predicting both ACM and MACE. The sensitivities for the 5th generation TnT assay were 85% for ACM and 90% for MACE rates, compared to 65% and 70% respectively for the 4th generation assay. 5th generation TnT positive patients that were missed by 4th generation TnT had a higher risk of ACM (27.5%) than patients with both assays negative (27.5% vs 11.1%, p<0.001), but lower than patients who had both assay positive (42.1%). MACE rates were not better stratified using the 5th generation TnT assay. CONCLUSIONS: In patients admitted for a non-cardiac condition, 5th generation TnT is more sensitive although less specific in predicting MACE and ACM. 5th generation TnT identifies an intermediate risk group for ACM previously missed with the 4th generation assay.