Admission serum albumin level and length of hospitalization in elderly patients

Background. We sought to determine whether elderly patients with a serum albumin level < 3.4 g/dL on admission to community hospitals have a longer duration of hospitalization than those with an admission serum albumin level greater than or equal to 3.4 g/dL. Methods. A total of 144 patients, 60 years of age or older, were consecutively admitted to our medical service for a variety of health problems. Within 4 hours of their admission, we measured serum albumin level and recorded subsequent length of hospital stay. Results. Length of hospital stay was inversely related to admission serum albumin level. The mean length of hospitalization was 3.85 +/- 2.55 days (+/- SD) for patients with an admission serum albumin level greater than or equal to 3.4 g/dL and 6.74 +/- 4.79 days for those with an admission serum albumin level <3.4 g/dL. Three patients (6%) with admission serum albumin levels <3.4 g/dL died, but no deaths occurred in patients with an albumin level greater than or equal to 3.4 g/dL. Conclusion. A serum albumin level <3.4 g/dL obtained within 4 hours of hospital admission is a reliable predictor of prolonged hospital stay and death in patients 60 years of age or older.