Relationship Between Mean Vancomycin Trough Concentration and Mortality in Critically Ill Patients: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

Background: It remains unclear whether the mean vancomycin trough concentration (VTC) derived from the entire course of therapy is of potential benefit for critically ill patients. This study was conducted to explore the association between mean serum VTC and mortality in intensive care units (ICUs). Methods: 3,603 adult patients with two or more VTC records after receiving vancomycin treatment in the eICU Collaborative Research Database were included in this multicenter retrospective cohort study. Mean VTC was estimated using all measured VTCs and investigated as a continuous and categorical variable. Patients were categorised into four groups according to mean VTC: <10, 10–15, 15–20, and >20 mg/L. Multivariable logistic regression and subgroup analyses were performed to investigate the relationship of mean VTC with mortality. Results: After adjusting for a series of covariates, logistic regression analyses indicated that mean VTC, as a continuous variable, was positively correlated with ICU (odds ratio, 1.038, 95% confidence interval, [1.014–1.063]) and hospital (1.025 [1.005–1.046]) mortalities. As a categorical variable, mean VTC of 10–15 mg/L was not associated with reduced ICU (1.705 [0.975–2.981]) and hospital (1.235 [0.829–1.841]) mortalities. Mean VTC of 15–20 mg/L was not correlated with a lower risk of hospital mortality (1.370 [0.924–2.029]). Moreover, mean VTCs of 15–20 and >20 mg/L were significantly associated with higher ICU mortality (1.924 [1.111–3.332]; 2.428 [1.385–4.258]), and mean VTC of >20 mg/L with higher hospital mortality (1.585 [1.053–2.387]) than mean VTC of <10 mg/L. Similar results were observed in patients with different Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation IV score, creatinine clearance, age, and body mass index subgroups. Conclusion: Mean VTC was not associated with reduced ICU/hospital related mortality. Our results suggested that VTC monitoring might not guarantee vancomycin efficacy for ICU patients.