Albumin Concentration Associates Linearly with Unfavorable Outcomes at Three Months Post-Acute Ischemic Stroke in Koreans

BACKGROUND: The role of serum albumin concentration as a predictor of prognosis in stroke is controversial. This study examined the association between baseline serum albumin concentration and unfavorable outcomes at 3 months post-acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in Korean patients. METHODS: Data for 1,903 patients with AIS between January 2010 and December 2016 were extracted from a pro-spective registry system at Seoul National University Hospital, South Korea. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and estimate the association between baseline serum albumin concentration and unfavorable outcomes at 3 months post-AIS. RESULTS: Multivariable regression analyses showed baseline serum albumin concentration (continuous variable) was significantly associated with unfavorable outcomes at 3 months post-AIS (fully adjusted OR = 0.4 [95% CI: 0.3 - 0.55]). Analysis of baseline serum albumin concentration as a categorical variable gave consistent results. Curve fitting showed a potential linear association between baseline serum albumin concentration and unfavorable outcomes at 3 months post-AIS (P for non-linearity = 0.789). CONCLUSIONS: Low baseline serum albumin concentration is a potential risk factor for unfavorable outcomes at 3 months post-AIS in Korean patients.