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Prognostic value of blood urea nitrogen-to-serum albumin ratio for mortality of pneumonia in patients receiving glucocorticoids: Secondary analysis based on a retrospective cohort study

Bingtian Xia, Bing-Xin Song, Jingcheng Zhang, Ting-ting Zhu, Huixian Hu

Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy, 2022

1,397 participants · 12 citations

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Previous studies have revealed that blood urea nitrogen-to-serum albumin ratio (BUN/ALB) is one of major risk factors of mortality in pneumonia. However, there are fewer scientific research about the correlation between BUN/ALB ratio and outcome of pneumonia in patients receiving glucocorticoids. This study was undertaken to explore the prognostic value of BUN/ALB ratio for mortality of pneumonia in patients receiving glucocorticoids.

METHODS

The present study was a retrospective cohort study. 1397 subjects receiving glucocorticoids alone or glucocorticoids and other immunosuppressants from six secondary and tertiary academic hospitals in China were analyzed. The endpoint of the study was 30-day mortality. It was noted that the entire study was completed by Li et al. and uploaded the data to the DATADRYAD website. The author only used this data for secondary analysis.

RESULTS

After adjusting potential confounders (age, sex, WBC, persistent lymphocytopenia, PLT, ALT, AST, Cr, high-dose steroid use, and COPD), non-linear relationship was detected between BUN/ALB ratio and 30-day mortality, whose point was 0.753. The effect sizes and the confidence intervals on the left and right sides of inflection point were 23.110 (7.157, 74.623) and 0.410 (0.074, 2.283), respectively. Subgroup analysis revealed the positive association was stronger among subjects with connective tissue disease.

CONCLUSIONS

The relationship between BUN/ALB ratio and 30-day mortality of pneumonia…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a secondary / pooled analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 1,397 participants or records.

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