Normal-range emergency department serum phosphorus levels and all-cause mortality

Abstract

Purpose of the studyHypophosphataemia and hyperphosphataemia are frequently encountered in hospitalised patients and are associated with significant clinical consequences. However, the prognostic value of normal-range phosphorus levels on all-cause mortality and hospitalisations is not well established. Therefore, we examined the association between normal-range phosphorus levels, all-cause mortality and hospitalisations in patients presenting to the emergency department of a tertiary medical centre in Israel.Study designA retrospective analysis of patients presenting to the Chaim Sheba Medical Center emergency department between 2012 and 2018. The cohort was divided into quartiles based on emergency department phosphorus levels: ‘very-low-normal’ (p ≥ 2 mg/dL and p ≤ 2.49 mg/dL), ‘low-normal’ (p ≥ 2.5 mg/dL and p ≤ 2.99 mg/dL), ‘high-normal’ (p≥ 3 mg/dL and p≤3.49 mg/dL) and ‘very-high-normal’ (p ≥ 3.5 mg/dL and p ≤ 4 mg/dL). We analysed the association between emergency department phosphorus levels, hospitalisation rate and 30-day and 90-day all-cause mortality.ResultsOur final analysis included 223 854 patients with normal-range phosphorus levels. Patients with ‘very-low-normal’ phosphorus levels had the highest mortality rate. Compared with patients with ‘high-normal’ phosphorus levels, patients with ‘very-low-normal’ levels had increased 30-day all-cause mortality (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.4, p<0.001), and increased 90-day all-cause mortality (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.3, p<0.001). Lower serum phosphorus levels were also associated with a higher hospitalisation rate, both for the internal medicine and general surgery wards (p<0.001).ConclusionsLower phosphorus levels, within the normal range, are associated with higher 30-day and 90-day all-cause mortality and hospitalisation rate.

Is Monitoring for Phosphate a Necessary Measure in Critical Ill Patients ?

“…Inorganic phosphate is the value of serum phosphate measured in the clinic [1][2][3][4][5]. Although serum phosphate is very low, it plays an important role in the body [1][2][3][6][7][8][9]. For example, (I) participating in the composition of cell membranes in the form of phospholipids to maintain the integrity and function of the cell structure;…”