Future Science OA (Dec 2020)

Association of hypoalbuminemia and reversal of albumin-to-globulin ratio with morbidity outcome among hospitalized Lassa fever infected patients at a dedicated treatment center in Ondo state, south-western Nigeria

  • Sampson Omagbemi Owhin,
  • Chukwuyem Abejegah,
  • Olumuyiwa John Fasipe,
  • Clement Oke,
  • Abiodun Abidoye,
  • Austine Osagbaekhoe,
  • Abimbola Awe,
  • Ijeoma Etafo,
  • Evbaruese Iredia,
  • Olufemi Ayodeji,
  • Lanre Olatunde,
  • Olalekan Ojo,
  • Josephine Alabi,
  • Peter Ehizokhale Akhideno,
  • Harrison Ejiyere,
  • Azuka Stephen Adeke,
  • Joachim Azegbeobor,
  • Liasu Ahmed

DOI
https://doi.org/10.2144/fsoa-2020-0075
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6, no. 10

Abstract

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Background: As of this present moment, there is paucity of data on report concerning the association between hypoalbuminaemia or reversal of albumin-to-globulin ratio and morbidity outcome in Lassa fever (LF) infection as a crucial determinant prognostic-predictor factor for treatment-survival outcome. Aim: This study was designed to determine the association between hypoalbuminaemia, reversal of albumin-to-globulin ratio and morbidity outcome among confirmed LF infected patients. Methodology: This was a descriptive retrospective study involving the assessment of records of confirmed LF infected patients that were managed at the center from November 2018 to October 2019. Results: Out of 83 recruited participants with complete records, 66 (79.5%) had hypoalbuminaemia, 74 (89.2%) had reversal of albumin-to-globulin ratio. A higher mean value of total white blood cell (WBC) count was observed among patients with hypoalbuminaemia (p < 0.0001) and reversal of albumin-to-globulin ratio (p < 0.0001) when compared to patients with normal values, respectively. Also, this study showed statistically significant associations between serum albumin level versus total WBC count (p < 0.0001), acute kidney injury (AKI; p = 0.009), bleeding diathesis (p < 0.0001), and occurrence of pregnancy miscarriage (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: There is a baseline hypoalbuminaemia and reversal of albumin-to-globulin ratio among confirmed LF infected patients. Based on these findings, the serum level of albumin and albumin-to-globulin ratio at presentation may serve as simple early biomarkers to identify patients at high risk for a complicated clinical course of disease. This study also reveals that those hospitalized LF infected patients with hypoalbuminemia and/or reversal of albumin-to-globulin ratio tend to have leucocytosis and experience prolonged duration of illness.

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