Comparison of urine albumin creatinine ratio with the pediatric index of mortality 2 score for prediction of pediatric intensive care unit outcomes

BACKGROUND: Predicting morbidity and mortality in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is of extreme importance to make precise decisions for better outcomes. AIM: We compared the urine albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) with the established PICU score, pediatric index of mortality 2 (PIM 2) for predicting PICU outcomes. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 67 patients admitted to PICU with systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Urine ACR was estimated on admission, and PIM 2 score was calculated. ACR was compared with PIM 2 for PICU outcome measures: the need for inotropes, development of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), duration of PICU stay, and survival. RESULTS: Microalbuminuria was found in 77.6% of patients with a median ACR of 80 mg/g. ACR showed a significant association with the need for inotropes (p < 0.001), MODS (p = 0.001), and significant correlation to PICU stay (p 0.001, rho = 0.361). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for ACR (0.798) was comparable to that of PIM 2 (0.896). The cutoff value of ACR derived to predict mortality was 110 mg/g. The study subjects were divided into 2 groups: below cutoff and above the cutoff. Outcome variables, inotrope use, MODS, mortality, and PICU stay compared between these subgroups, were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: ACR is a good predictor of PICU outcomes and is comparable to PIM 2 for mortality prediction.