Phase angle as a prognostic marker in patients with critical illness

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Physiology
• Biomarkers

Background:

• Phase angle (PA) is recognized for its role in assessing cell membrane integrity.
• Its prognostic value in various clinical settings is established.
• The utility of PA in intensive care unit (ICU) patients requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate phase angle (PA) as a prognostic marker in critically ill ICU patients.
• To correlate PA with established clinical scores, length of hospital stay, and mortality.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study involving 95 adult ICU patients.
• Assessment of prognostic indexes: Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA).
• Evaluation of clinical outcomes including ICU discharge, mortality, and length of stay, alongside PA measurements.

Main Results:

• The study included 95 patients with a mean age of 63.7 years; 15.8% mortality rate.
• Phase angle (PA) showed a weak correlation with APACHE II scores (r = -0.241, P = .02).
• A moderate correlation between PA and APACHE II was observed in patients without sepsis (r = -0.506, P < .001).

Conclusions:

• Phase angle (PA) may serve as a valuable prognostic marker for critically ill patients, especially those without sepsis.
• Limitations include the weak correlation with APACHE II scores and lack of association with other clinical outcomes in the overall sample.
• Further studies are warranted to fully elucidate the prognostic implications of PA in critical care.