Association between lactate-to-albumin ratio and all-cause mortality in cirrhosis patients: Analysis of the MIMIC-IV database

Objective

This study evaluates the predictive value of the lactate/albumin ratio (LAR) for all-cause mortality in cirrhosis patients.

Design

Retrospective observational study.

Setting

Intensive care unit (ICU).

Patients or participants

626 first-time ICU-admitted cirrhosis patients in the USA (MIMIC-IV v2.2).

Interventions

None.

Main variables of interest

LAR index, 28-day, and 90-day all-cause mortality.

Results

Of 626 patients (60.86% male), 27.80% and 39.14% died within 28 and 90 days, respectively. Multivariate Cox analysis showed a significant association between higher LAR and mortality. Adjusted for confounders, elevated LAR increased the 28-day mortality risk [HR: 1.31 (1.21–1.42), P < 0.001]. A restricted cubic spline analysis revealed non-linear relationships between LAR and mortality. For 28-day mortality, the inflection point was 1.583: below this, HR was 2.29 (95% CI: 1.61–3.27, P < 0.001); above, HR was 1.16 (95% CI: 1.02–1.31, P = 0.021; P = 0.002). For 90-day mortality, the inflection point was 1.423: below, HR was 1.60 (95% CI: 1.04–2.47, P = 0.033); above, HR was 0.94 (95% CI: 0.75–1.16, P = 0.542; P = 0.012).

Conclusions

LAR predicts 28-day and 90-day mortality with a segmented effect. An LAR ≥1.583 signals high 28-day mortality risk, necessitating intensified monitoring and potential ICU admission. For 90-day mortality, LAR near 1.423 serves as an early warning for high-risk patients and guides interventions. Continuous LAR monitoring aids management, but prospective studies are needed to confirm clinical utility.