Investigation of laboratory parameters as mortality marker in patients with blunt multi-trauma

Abstract

Purpose: In trauma patients, vital signs may not be beneficial in patient management. Therefore, evaluating vital signs, some laboratory parameters, and imaging methods is essential in managing trauma patients. Based on the hypothesis that lactate and base excess (BE) is an early marker of morbidity and mortality in the evaluation in blunt multi-trauma patients, we aimed to investigate the value of lactate albumin ratio and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) albumin ratio in addition to lactate and BE in predicting mortality in blunt multi-trauma patients. Materials and methods: This was a single-centre, retrospective study. Prior to data collection, approval was obtained from the local ethics committee. Patients admitted with multi-trauma to the emergency department of a tertiary education and research hospital in Türkiye between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2021, who did not meet the exclusion criteria, were included in the study. This study examined the predictive value of Lactate, BE, Lactate-to-albumin ratio, and LDH-to-albumin ratio in predicting mortality in blunt multi-trauma patients. Results: The lactate cut-off value for mortality was 4.2, exhibiting 73.3% sensitivity and 89.2% specificity. The BE cut-off value for mortality was -3, exhibiting 80.0% sensitivity and 76.9% specificity. The lactate-albumin ratio cut-off value for mortality was 0.11, exhibiting 73.3% sensitivity and 90.8% specificity. The LDH-albumin ratio cut-off value for mortality was 7.2, exhibiting 86.7% sensitivity and 58.5% specificity. Conclusion: Lactate albumin ratio was more specific in predicting mortality than lactate and BE, while LDH albumin ratio was more sensitive in predicting mortality than lactate and BE.