Serum Albumin Level at Intensive Care Unit Admission and Delirium Duration and Severity in Critically Ill Adults

Background Hypoalbuminemia has been associated with an increased risk of in-hospital delirium. However, the relationship between serum albumin levels and the duration and severity of delirium is not well defined. Objective To investigate the relationship between albumin levels and delirium duration and severity. Methods Study data were from a randomized controlled trial involving adult intensive care unit patients (≥ 18 years old) admitted to 3 academic hospitals from 2009 to 2015 who had positive delirium screening results on the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit–7. Delirium severity was defined by mean Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit–7 scores by day 8. Delirum duration was defined by the number of delirium-free and coma-free days by day 8. Serum albumin levels within 72 hours of intensive care unit admission were collected from electronic medical records. Results The study included 237 patients (mean age, 60.3 years; female sex, 52.7%; receiving mechanical ventilation, 59.5%; acute respiratory failure or sepsis, 57.8%). Serum albumin levels were categorized as 3 g/dL or greater (n = 13), 2.5 to 2.99 g/dL (n = 142), and less than 2.5 g/dL (n = 82). After adjustment for demographic and clinical characteristics, no significant associations between albumin levels and delirium duration or severity were found. However, patients with normal albumin levels (≥3 g/dL) had shorter stays than did patients with hypoalbuminemia. Conclusion In patients with delirium, higher albumin levels were associated with shorter hospital stays but not with delirium duration or severity.