2021 Volume 28 Issue 1 Pages 8-13
Objective: We aimed to identify the risk factors of phlebitis in patients admitted in the ICU receiving intravenous nicardipine hydrochloride. Methods: The incidence and risk factors of nicardipine hydrochloride infusion-related phlebitis were retrospectively investigated in 118 ICU patients (173 intravenous catheters) from May 2017 to December 2018. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for phlebitis; receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to determine the optimal cut-off level of each factor. Results: The incidence of nicardipine hydrochloride-related phlebitis was 19.7%. The statistically significant or marginally significant independent factors following the multiple logistic regression analysis were serum albumin level (OR 0.32, 95%CI 0.14–0.71, P = 0.006), time-weighted average of nicardipine hydrochloride infusion rate (OR 1.27, 95%CI 1.10–1.47, P = 0.001), and infusion duration (OR 1.02, 95%CI 1.00–1.04, P = 0.057). The optimal cut-off values defined from ROC analyses were serum albumin levels lower than 3.3 g/dL, nicardipine hydrochloride infusion rate faster than 4.1 mg/hr, and infusion duration longer than 22.7 hr. Conclusion: Nicardipine hydrochloride-related phlebitis is significantly associated with lower serum albumin levels (≤3.3 g/dL), faster nicardipine hydrochloride infusion rate (≥4.1 mg/hr), and longer infusion duration (≥22.7 hr).
