The relationship and threshold of serum phosphate with regard to the 28-day mortality risk in sepsis patients undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between serum phosphate levels and the risk of 28-day mortality in critically-ill patients with septic acute kidney injury (AKI) undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study analysed data from critically-ill patients with septic AKI who underwent CRRT between January 2009 and September 2016. Demographic, clinical and routine biochemical data were retrieved from a database and analysed to identify risk factors for 28-day mortality. RESULTS: A total of 796 patients were included in the analyses. Multivariate regression analyses showed that phosphate (0 h), phosphate (24 h) and delta phosphate were associated with the 28-day mortality in patients with septic AKI undergoing CRRT. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) were 1.12 (1.03, 1.22), 1.22 (1.14, 1.30) and 1.12 (1.04, 1.20) for phosphate (0 h), phosphate (24 h) and delta phosphate, respectively. Curve fitting and threshold analyses showed that when phosphate (0 h) was between 5.6 mg/dl and 8.7 mg/dl, phosphate (24 h) was >3.8 mg/dl and delta phosphate was >–1, the 28-day mortality risk increased significantly. CONCLUSION: In patients with septic AKI undergoing CRRT, serum phosphate level was associated with the prognosis of patients in terms of 28-day mortality.