Diuretic strategies in patients with resistance to loop-diuretics in the intensive care unit: A retrospective study from the MIMIC-III database

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate various diuretic strategies to alleviate loop-diuretics resistance in critically ill patients.

Materials and method: ICU adults requiring more than 1 mg/kg/day of furosemide, from the MIMIC-III database. Four diuretic strategies were investigated: incremental dose of loop diuretics, continuous infusion, combinations with a second class of diuretics and administration of intravenous albumin. A generalized estimating equation was used to investigate the associations between these strategies and endpoints. The primary outcome was the 24-h urine output and secondary endpoints included fluid balance, weight change, electrolyte and acid-base abnormalities, kidney replacement therapy initiation, and mortality.

Results: A total of 7645 ICU stays from 6358 patients were included. After adjustment, the use of continuous loop-diuretic infusion was associated with a higher 24-h urine output (β: 732, 95% CI:669-795, p < 0.001), lower 24-h fluid balance (p < 0.001) and greater weight loss at 48-h (p < 0.001). Thiazide- and carbonic anhydrase inhibitor combinations were both associated with higher urine output (p < 0.001) and weight loss at 48-h (p < 0.01), while intravenous albumin was associated with fluid gain (p < 0.001). Risks of electrolyte and metabolic disturbances varied across diuretic strategies.

Conclusions: Continuous loop-diuretic infusion and thiazide- or acetazolamide-loop diuretic combinations increased urine output significantly, leading to a negative fluid balance and weight loss.

Keywords: Diuretic combination; Diuretics; Fluid overload; Furosemide; Loop diuretic.