Association between blood urea nitrogen to albumin ratio in predicting mortality in patients with sepsis at the emergency department

Sepsis is a syndrome created by a severe inflammatory response to infection, and it is crucial to effectively identify patients with sepsis. İt is known to result in high mortality rates and increasing healthcare costs. In light of this, our study aims to determine the potential role of the blood urea nitrogen to albumin ratio in sepsis prognosis and its association with mortality in patients diagnosed with sepsis in the emergency department. Additionally, by comparing the BUN/albumin ratio in emergency department patients diagnosed with sepsis with the SIRS, NEWS and MEWS scores, we believe that confirming the prognostic value of this ratio will increase the accuracy of the study. Between July 20, 2021, and July 21, 2022, the computer records and patient files of all adult patients who presented to the Adnan Menderes University Emergency Medicine Department with a diagnosis of sepsis were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 290 patients with sepsis were enrolled. The overall 28-day mortality rate was %55,5. Most patients were male, with an average age of 74 years. The most common comorbidities were hypertension, malignancy, and diabetes mellitus. Respiratory system infections were the most common infection foci. High levels of the BUN/albumin ratio was associated with mortality. BAR exhibited an AUC of 0.638 (95% GA: 0.637–0.758, P<0.001) when used to predict patient mortality risk, with 12,58 being the optimal BAR cut-off.(sensitivity and specificity values of %70,1 and %60,4) Significant differences were found between MEWS, NEWS and SIRS scores and mortality. The lactate level was significantly associated with mortality. In our study, we observed that the BUN/albumin ratio may have a potential role in predicting prognosis and mortality patient with sepsis, and we think further studies are needed to confirm this finding.