Metformin-Associated Lactic Acidosis in ICU Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Nicolas Peters, Jay Nicolas, Damien Barraud, Aurélie Cravoisy, Lionel Nace, Pierre-Edouard Bollaert, Sébastien Gibot
Primary Institution: Hôpital Central, University of Nancy, France
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence of metformin-associated lactic acidosis (MALA) in an ICU and how does dialysis affect patient outcomes?
Conclusion
MALA is a life-threatening condition that occurs several times a year in the ICU, and while dialysis may have a protective effect, treatment mainly involves supportive measures.
Supporting Evidence
- MALA accounted for 0.84% of all ICU admissions over five years.
- The mortality rate for MALA patients was 30%.
- Dialysis did not significantly change mortality rates despite higher illness severity in dialysed patients.
Takeaway
MALA is a serious condition that can happen to people taking metformin, and while dialysis might help, doctors mainly provide support to patients.
Methodology
The study retrospectively evaluated ICU patients over five years who were on metformin and presented with lactic acidosis.
Potential Biases
The study's retrospective design may have introduced bias, particularly in the selection of patients for dialysis.
Limitations
The small sample size limited the ability to make multiple comparisons and multivariate analyses.
Participant Demographics
Patients were primarily older adults with a mean age of 66.8 years, with a balanced sex ratio.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.004
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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