Identification of Risk Factors for Iatrogenic Hypophosphatemia: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:To investigate the iatrogenic risk factors for hypophosphatemia in intensive care unit (ICU) patients.METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN:A total of 120 patients were enrolled and further divided into 4 groups, namely normal, mild, moderate or severe, according to the degree of hypophosphatemia. A number of related factors were analyzed and compared among the 4 groups, including the treatment method and outcomes. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were employed to identify and confirm the risk factors associated with the occurrence of hypophosphatemia.RESULTS:The results revealed that the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHEII), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), modified NUTrition Risk in Critically ill (NUTRIC) scores as well as the length of patient stays in ICUs exhibited a gradually increasing trend of aggravation of hypophosphatemia. Univariate regression analysis identified the use of dehydrating drugs to be closely associated with the occurrence of hypophosphatemia, which was further confirmed by a multivariate regression analysis.CONCLUSIONS:The use of dehydrating drugs led to hypophosphatemia; therefore blood phosphorus concentrations should be closely monitored during treatment of ICU patients.