Lower serum cholesterol levels as a risk factor for critical illness polyneuropathy: a matched case–control study

Critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP) is a frequent and underdiagnosed phenomenon among intensive care unit patients. The lipophilic nature of neuronal synapses may result in the association of low serum cholesterol levels with a higher rate of CIP development. We aimed to investigate this issue in critically ill patients. All cases diagnosed with CIP in our tertiary care hospital between 2013 and 2017 were 1:1 matched with controls without the condition by age, sex, and ICD diagnoses. The main risk factors examined were the differences in change between initial and minimum serum total cholesterol levels, and minimum serum total cholesterol levels between matched pairs. Other predictors were serum markers of acute inflammation. We included 67 cases and 67 controls (134 critically ill patients, 49% female, 46% medical). Serum total cholesterol levels decreased more profoundly in cases than controls (median: −74 (IQR −115 to −24) vs. −39 (IQR −82 to −4), median difference: −28, 95% CI [−51, −5]), mg/dl). Minimum serum total cholesterol levels were lower in the cases (median difference: −24, 95% CI [−39, −9], mg/dl). We found significant median differences across matched pairs in maximum serum C-reactive protein (8.9, 95% CI [4.6, 13.2], mg/dl), minimum albumin (−4.2, 95% CI [−6.7, −1.7], g/l), decrease in albumin (−3.9, 95% CI [−7.6, −0.2], g/l), and lowest cholinesterase levels (−0.72, 95% CI [−1.05, −0.39], U/l). Subsequently, more pronounced decreases in serum total cholesterol levels and lower minimum total cholesterol levels during critical care unit hospitalizations may be a risk factor for CIP.