Iron parameters as a predictor of in-hospital mortality of critically ill patients

Abstract

Background & Aim: Iron is required and essential for many other life-sustaining functions. On the other hand, free iron is toxic because it results in generation of reactive oxygen species and therefore tissue damage.

Critical illness results in profound and characteristic changes to iron metabolism. These changes are mediated predominantly by the polypeptide hepcidin. the available evidence suggests that both iron deficiency and iron excess may be harmful for critically ill patients in intensive care unit (ICU).

This study aim to evaluate the usefulness of iron parameters as outcome predictors in ICU patients.

Materials and Methods: In a prospective cohort study on (120) critically ill patients who have been admitted to the
intensive care unit at Al-Assad and Al-Mouassat University Hospitals, Damascus, Syria, during the period between 2020-2021.

Venous blood was obtained and analyzed to determine the patient’s current state including serum iron levels and its parameters (ferritin, TIBC, TSAT)

Results: Serum iron parameters at admission were correlated with mortality in ICU subjects, Especially TSAT. Patients who died during hospitalization had markedly higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores and significantly lower serum iron, ferritin and TSAT and higher TIBC levels compared with those who survived.