Use of Diuretics is not associated with mortality in patients admitted to the emergency department: results from a cross-sectional study. Issue 1 (December 2016) - Haider, Dominik
Abstract Background Patients with diuretic therapy are at risk for drug-induced adverse reactions. It is unknown if presence of diuretic therapy at hospital emergency room admission is associated with mortality. Methods In this cross sectional analysis, all emergency room patients 2010 and 2011 at the Inselspital Bern, Switzerland were included. A multivariable logistic regression model was performed to assess the association between pre-existing diuretic medication and 28 day mortality. Results Twenty-two thousand two hundred thirty-nine subjects were included in the analysis. A total of 8.5 %, 2.5 %, and 0.4 % of patients used one, two, or three or more diuretics. In univariate analysis spironolactone, torasemide and chlortalidone use were associated with 28 day mortality (allp < 0.05). In a multivariate cox regression model no association with mortality was detectable (p > 0.05). No difference existed between patients with or without diuretic therapy (P > 0.05). Age and creatinine were independent risk factors for mortaliy (bothp < 0.05). Conclusion Use of diuretics is not associated with mortality in an unselected cohort of patients presenting in an emergency room.