Association between aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio and mortality in critically ill patients with end stage renal disease

Abstract The aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) ratio has been extensively studied in relation to mortality, yet its specific association with intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients remains underexplored. The study investigated th...

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Main Authors: Xiaomin Liang, Qian Wang, Kai Lai, Xiaohong Li, Shuiqing Gui, Ying Li, Zemao Xing
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03027-2
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author Xiaomin Liang
Qian Wang
Kai Lai
Xiaohong Li
Shuiqing Gui
Ying Li
Zemao Xing
author_facet Xiaomin Liang
Qian Wang
Kai Lai
Xiaohong Li
Shuiqing Gui
Ying Li
Zemao Xing
author_sort Xiaomin Liang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) ratio has been extensively studied in relation to mortality, yet its specific association with intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients remains underexplored. The study investigated this relationship in critically ill ESRD patients. This multicenter retrospective cohort study analyzed data from ESRD patients admitted to 208 ICUs across the United States between 2014 and 2015 using the eICU Collaborative Research Database. Smooth curve fitting with Generalized Additive Model and two-piecewise linear regression analyses were utilized to examine nonlinear relationships. Among the 3005 patients (mean age 62.68 ± 14.16 years; 54.48% male), 252 (8.39%) died in the ICU. A significant nonlinear relationship between the AST/ALT ratio and ICU mortality was identified with an inflection point of 1.59. For AST/ALT ratios ≤ 1.59, each unit increase was associated with a 2.02-fold higher risk of ICU mortality (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.22–3.33, P = 0.0059). For AST/ALT ratios > 1.59, no significant association with mortality was observed (OR  1.07, 95% CI 0.86–1.33, P = 0.5348). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings. In critically ill ESRD patients, a nonlinear relationship exists between AST/ALT ratio and ICU mortality.
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spelling doaj-art-38fddc71d5b0417d974fea73deee066f2025-08-20T03:08:40ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-03027-2Association between aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio and mortality in critically ill patients with end stage renal diseaseXiaomin Liang0Qian Wang1Kai Lai2Xiaohong Li3Shuiqing Gui4Ying Li5Zemao Xing6Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen UniversityDepartment of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen & Longgang District People’s Hospital of ShenzhenDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen UniversityDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen UniversityDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen UniversityDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen UniversityDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen UniversityAbstract The aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) ratio has been extensively studied in relation to mortality, yet its specific association with intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients remains underexplored. The study investigated this relationship in critically ill ESRD patients. This multicenter retrospective cohort study analyzed data from ESRD patients admitted to 208 ICUs across the United States between 2014 and 2015 using the eICU Collaborative Research Database. Smooth curve fitting with Generalized Additive Model and two-piecewise linear regression analyses were utilized to examine nonlinear relationships. Among the 3005 patients (mean age 62.68 ± 14.16 years; 54.48% male), 252 (8.39%) died in the ICU. A significant nonlinear relationship between the AST/ALT ratio and ICU mortality was identified with an inflection point of 1.59. For AST/ALT ratios ≤ 1.59, each unit increase was associated with a 2.02-fold higher risk of ICU mortality (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.22–3.33, P = 0.0059). For AST/ALT ratios > 1.59, no significant association with mortality was observed (OR  1.07, 95% CI 0.86–1.33, P = 0.5348). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings. In critically ill ESRD patients, a nonlinear relationship exists between AST/ALT ratio and ICU mortality.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03027-2Aspartate aminotransferaseAlanine aminotransferaseMortalityEnd stage renal diseaseCohort
spellingShingle Xiaomin Liang
Qian Wang
Kai Lai
Xiaohong Li
Shuiqing Gui
Ying Li
Zemao Xing
Association between aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio and mortality in critically ill patients with end stage renal disease
Scientific Reports
Aspartate aminotransferase
Alanine aminotransferase
Mortality
End stage renal disease
Cohort
title Association between aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio and mortality in critically ill patients with end stage renal disease
title_full Association between aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio and mortality in critically ill patients with end stage renal disease
title_fullStr Association between aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio and mortality in critically ill patients with end stage renal disease
title_full_unstemmed Association between aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio and mortality in critically ill patients with end stage renal disease
title_short Association between aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio and mortality in critically ill patients with end stage renal disease
title_sort association between aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio and mortality in critically ill patients with end stage renal disease
topic Aspartate aminotransferase
Alanine aminotransferase
Mortality
End stage renal disease
Cohort
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03027-2
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