Use of Diuretics is not associated with mortality in patients admitted to the emergency department: results from a cross-sectional study

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 (all p < 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 (both p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Use of diuretics is not associated with mortality in an unselected cohort of patients presenting in an emergency room.