Low Albumin Levels Are Associated with Mortality Risk in Hospitalized Patients

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of albumin levels on admission and change in levels during hospitalization with hospitalization outcomes.

Historical prospective data of patients hospitalized between 2011 and 2013 were collected. Levels of albumin were classified as marked hypoalbuminemia (<2.5 mg/dL), mild hypoalbuminemia (2.5-3.5 mg/dL), normal albumin (3.5-4.5 mg/dL), and hyperalbuminemia (>4.5 mg/dL). Main outcomes were length of hospitalization, in-hospital mortality, and long-term mortality.

The cohort included 30,732 patients (mean age 67 ± 18 years, 51% male). Most patients had normal albumin levels on admission (n = 20,124, 65%), 29% of patients had hypoalbuminemia, mostly mild (n = 7,334, 24%), and 5% of patients had marked hypoalbuminemia (n = 1436). Hyperalbuminemia on admission was evident in 6% of the patients (n = 1838). Follow-up (median ± standard deviation) was 1675 ± 325 days. Compared with in-hospital mortality with normal albumin on admission (2%), mortality was higher with mild (12%) and marked hypoalbuminemia (34%) and lower with hyperalbuminemia (0.3%). Mortality rate at the end of follow-up was 29% with normal albumin levels, 67% and 83% with mild and marked hypoalbuminemia, respectively. Patients with hyperalbuminemia on admission and before discharge have the best short- and long-term survival. This pattern was similar when analyzed separately in different age groups. In patients with hypoalbuminemia on admission, normalization of albumin levels before discharge was associated with better short- and long-term survival, compared with patients with hypoalbuminemia before discharge.

Low albumin levels on admission are associated with increased short- and long-term mortality. Normalization of albumin levels before discharge was associated with lower mortality risk, compared with hypoalbuminemia before discharge.