Association of serum creatinine-to-albumin ratio with 28-day all-cause mortality in older adults critically ill patients with sepsis: a retrospective analysis of the MIMIC-IV database

Abstract Background Sepsis has posed a significant global public health challenge, with advanced age, chronic diseases, and medication history in the older adults population significantly increasing the risk of organ failure or death. Serum creatinine (Cr) and albumin (Alb) are important predictors...

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Main Authors: Lixin Zhao, Haixia Chai, Sifang Yu, Fang Chen, Caiyun Zhang, Yancun Liu, Yanfen Chai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Geriatrics
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06093-3
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author Lixin Zhao
Haixia Chai
Sifang Yu
Fang Chen
Caiyun Zhang
Yancun Liu
Yanfen Chai
author_facet Lixin Zhao
Haixia Chai
Sifang Yu
Fang Chen
Caiyun Zhang
Yancun Liu
Yanfen Chai
author_sort Lixin Zhao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Sepsis has posed a significant global public health challenge, with advanced age, chronic diseases, and medication history in the older adults population significantly increasing the risk of organ failure or death. Serum creatinine (Cr) and albumin (Alb) are important predictors of mortality in individuals with various diseases. Therefore, our research aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum creatinine to albumin ratio (CAR) and 28-day all-cause mortality in older adults patients with sepsis. Methods Using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database, we identified older adults patients with sepsis and applied Kaplan-Meier (K-M) curves and multivariable logistic regression to evaluate the association between CAR and 28-day all-cause mortality. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis explored the nonlinear relationship, and subgroup analyses were conducted. Results After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 2,350 older adults patients with sepsis were enrolled, among whom the proportion of non-survivors was 34.89%. Survivors had longer hospital stays and lower CAR. Patients in the highest CAR quartile (Q4) exhibited significantly higher levels of creatinine, and various disease scores. Additionally, the 28-day all-cause mortality in the ICU for the Q4 group was significantly higher than in the other groups (p < 0.0001). After adjusting for confounding factors, the 28-day ICU all-cause mortality was still significantly increased, with a nonlinear relationship (P < 0.001). This association was further confirmed in subgroup analyses, where the predictive value of CAR for 28-day all-cause mortality in the ICU remained consistent across subgroups stratified by comorbidities and individual patient characteristics. Conclusions The MIMIC-IV database revealed a positive association between serum CAR and short-term all-cause mortality in older adults patients with sepsis, with a nonlinear relationship. This research enhances our understanding of the association between serum-based biomarkers and prognosis in older adults patients with sepsis.
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spelling doaj-art-2e6c7e9aa89647b5903654ce86ff6b102025-08-20T03:04:17ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182025-07-0125111110.1186/s12877-025-06093-3Association of serum creatinine-to-albumin ratio with 28-day all-cause mortality in older adults critically ill patients with sepsis: a retrospective analysis of the MIMIC-IV databaseLixin Zhao0Haixia Chai1Sifang Yu2Fang Chen3Caiyun Zhang4Yancun Liu5Yanfen Chai6Department of Emergency Medicine, Tianjin Medical University General HospitalDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Tianjin Medical University General HospitalDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Tangshan Central HospitalDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Tianjin Medical University General HospitalDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Tianjin Medical University General HospitalDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Tianjin Medical University General HospitalDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Tianjin Medical University General HospitalAbstract Background Sepsis has posed a significant global public health challenge, with advanced age, chronic diseases, and medication history in the older adults population significantly increasing the risk of organ failure or death. Serum creatinine (Cr) and albumin (Alb) are important predictors of mortality in individuals with various diseases. Therefore, our research aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum creatinine to albumin ratio (CAR) and 28-day all-cause mortality in older adults patients with sepsis. Methods Using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database, we identified older adults patients with sepsis and applied Kaplan-Meier (K-M) curves and multivariable logistic regression to evaluate the association between CAR and 28-day all-cause mortality. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis explored the nonlinear relationship, and subgroup analyses were conducted. Results After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 2,350 older adults patients with sepsis were enrolled, among whom the proportion of non-survivors was 34.89%. Survivors had longer hospital stays and lower CAR. Patients in the highest CAR quartile (Q4) exhibited significantly higher levels of creatinine, and various disease scores. Additionally, the 28-day all-cause mortality in the ICU for the Q4 group was significantly higher than in the other groups (p < 0.0001). After adjusting for confounding factors, the 28-day ICU all-cause mortality was still significantly increased, with a nonlinear relationship (P < 0.001). This association was further confirmed in subgroup analyses, where the predictive value of CAR for 28-day all-cause mortality in the ICU remained consistent across subgroups stratified by comorbidities and individual patient characteristics. Conclusions The MIMIC-IV database revealed a positive association between serum CAR and short-term all-cause mortality in older adults patients with sepsis, with a nonlinear relationship. This research enhances our understanding of the association between serum-based biomarkers and prognosis in older adults patients with sepsis.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06093-3MIMIC-IVSerum creatinine to albumin ratioSepsisAll-cause mortality
spellingShingle Lixin Zhao
Haixia Chai
Sifang Yu
Fang Chen
Caiyun Zhang
Yancun Liu
Yanfen Chai
Association of serum creatinine-to-albumin ratio with 28-day all-cause mortality in older adults critically ill patients with sepsis: a retrospective analysis of the MIMIC-IV database
BMC Geriatrics
MIMIC-IV
Serum creatinine to albumin ratio
Sepsis
All-cause mortality
title Association of serum creatinine-to-albumin ratio with 28-day all-cause mortality in older adults critically ill patients with sepsis: a retrospective analysis of the MIMIC-IV database
title_full Association of serum creatinine-to-albumin ratio with 28-day all-cause mortality in older adults critically ill patients with sepsis: a retrospective analysis of the MIMIC-IV database
title_fullStr Association of serum creatinine-to-albumin ratio with 28-day all-cause mortality in older adults critically ill patients with sepsis: a retrospective analysis of the MIMIC-IV database
title_full_unstemmed Association of serum creatinine-to-albumin ratio with 28-day all-cause mortality in older adults critically ill patients with sepsis: a retrospective analysis of the MIMIC-IV database
title_short Association of serum creatinine-to-albumin ratio with 28-day all-cause mortality in older adults critically ill patients with sepsis: a retrospective analysis of the MIMIC-IV database
title_sort association of serum creatinine to albumin ratio with 28 day all cause mortality in older adults critically ill patients with sepsis a retrospective analysis of the mimic iv database
topic MIMIC-IV
Serum creatinine to albumin ratio
Sepsis
All-cause mortality
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06093-3
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