Table 2.
Predictors of Thirst.
| Characteristics | All, n = 88 (100.0%) | Thirsty, n = 61 (69.3%) | Not thirsty, n = 27 (30.7%) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | ||||
| Mean ± SDa | 64.3 ± 14.9 | 64.9 ± 13.4 | 63.0 ± 18.0 | 0.6 |
| Gender | ||||
| Male (n, %) | 59 (67.0) | 40 (65.6) | 19 (70.4) | 0.8 |
| Race | ||||
| Chinese (n, %) | 71 (80.7) | 50 (82.0) | 21 (77.8) | 0.8 |
| Malay (n, %) | 5 (5.7) | 3 (4.9) | 2 (7.4) | |
| Indian (n, %) | 11 (12.5) | 7 (11.5) | 4 (14.8) | |
| Others (n, %) | 1 (1.1) | 1 (1.6) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Comorbidities | ||||
| Hypertension (n, %) | 48 (54.5) | 35 (57.4) | 13 (48.1) | 0.5 |
| Cancer (n, %) | 36 (40.9) | 26 (42.6) | 10 (37.0) | 0.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus (n, %) | 34 (38.6) | 28 (45.9) | 6 (22.2) | 0.06 |
| Old cerebrovascular accident (n, %) | 16 (18.2) | 15 (24.6) | 1 (3.7) | 0.02* |
| Ischemic heart disease (n, %) | 11 (12.5) | 8 (13.1) | 3 (11.1) | 1.0 |
| Chronic kidney Disease (n,%) | 5 (5.7) | 4 (6.6) | 1 (3.7) | 1.0 |
| Chronic pulmonary disease (n, %) | 5 (5.7) | 4 (6.6) | 1 (3.7) | 1.0 |
| Depression (n, %) | 2 (2.3) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (7.4) | 0.09 |
| Reason for admission | ||||
| Gastrointestinal (n, %) | 39 (44.3) | 28 (45.9) | 12 (44.4) | 0.8 |
| Infection (not respiratory/urinary) (n, %) | 15 (17.0) | 10 (16.4) | 5 (18.5) | 0.8 |
| Trauma (n, %) | 8 (9.1) | 4 (6.6) | 4 (14.8) | 0.2 |
| Respiratory (n, %) | 5 (5.7) | 4 (6.6) | 1 (3.7) | 1.0 |
| Cardiovascular (n, %) | 4 (4.6) | 4 (6.6) | 0 (0.0) | 0.3 |
| Urinary (n, %) | 4 (4.6) | 3 (4.9) | 1 (3.7) | 1.0 |
| Neurological (n, %) | 3 (3.4) | 1 (1.6) | 2 (7.4) | 0.2 |
| Hematological (n, %) | 3 (3.4) | 3 (4.9) | 0 (0) | 0.6 |
| Metabolic (n, %) | 3 (3.4) | 2 (3.3) | 1 (3.7) | 1.0 |
| Elective surgery (n, %) | 3 (3.4) | 3 (4.9) | 0 (0.0) | 0.6 |
| Head and neck lumps (n, %) | 2 (2.3) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (7.4) | 0.09 |
| Medications | ||||
| Intravenous fluids (n, %) | 68 (77.3) | 50 (82.0) | 18 (66.7) | 0.2 |
| PPIsb (n, %) | 61 (69.3) | 43 (70.5) | 18 (66.7) | 0.8 |
| Opioids (n, %) | 40 (45.5) | 31 (50.8) | 9 (33.3) | 0.2 |
| Anti hypertensives (n, %) | 35 (39.8) | 25 (41.0) | 10 (37.0) | 0.8 |
| Corticosteroids (n, %) | 9 (10.2) | 8 (13.1) | 1 (3.7) | 0.3 |
| NSAIDSc (n, %) | 18 (20.5) | 12 (26.4) | 6 (22.2) | 0.8 |
| Diuretics (n, %) | 10 (11.4) | 9 (14.8) | 1 (3.7) | 0.2 |
| Tricyclic antidepressants (n, %) | 2 (2.3) | 1 (1.6) | 1 (3.7) | 0.5 |
| Anticholinergics (n, %) | 2 (2.3) | 2 (3.2) | 0 (0.0) | 1.0 |
| Antipsychotics (n, %) | 1 (1.1) | 1 (1.6) | 0 (0.0) | 1.0 |
| Duration of hospital | ||||
| Median (IQR)d (days) | 5 (2–15) | 4 (1–10) | 6 (3–17) | 0.07 |
| ICU/HDU this admission | ||||
| No (n, %) | 62 (70.5) | 42 (68.9) | 20 (74.1) | 0.8 |
| NGT or NBM | ||||
| NGT (n, %) | 57 (64.8) | 43 (70.5) | 14 (51.9) | 0.1 |
|
Duration on NGT/NBM Median (IQR)d (h) |
24 (11–264) | 36 (10–336) | 20.5 (12–252) | 1.0 |
| NGT before current admission | ||||
| No (n, %) | 81 (92.0) | 56 (91.8) | 25 (92.6) | 1.0 |
| Volume status | ||||
| Hypervolemic (n, %) | 1 (1.1) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (3.7) | 0.3 |
| Hypovolemic (n, %) | 41 (46.6) | 24 (39.3) | 17 (63.0) | 0.06 |
| Euvolemic (n, %) | 46 (52.3) | 37 (60.7) | 9 (33.3) | 0.02* |
| Doctors/nurses asked about thirst | ||||
| No (n, %) | 76 (86.4) | 50 (82.0) | 26 (96.2) | 0.1 |
| Doctors/nurses attempted to treat thirst | ||||
| No (n, %) | 65 (73.9) | 42 (68.9) | 23 (85.2) | 0.1 |
| Thirst indices | ||||
| Thirst distress score+, mean ± SDa | 4.0 ± 3.3 | 5.7 ± 2.5 | 0.1 ± 0.4 | < 0.001* |
| Thirst intensity score+, mean ± SDa | 4.2 ± 3.6 | 6.1 ± 2.7 | 0.0 ± 0.2 | < 0.001* |
| Hunger score+, mean ± SDa | 2.9 ± 3.0 | 3.3 ± 3.0 | 2.0 ± 2.9 | 0.3 |
| Pain score+, Mean ± SDa | 1.7 ± 3.0 | 1.5 ± 2.7 | 2.2 ± 3.5 | 0.08 |
*P < 0.05.
aSD: Standard deviation.
bPPI: Proton Pump Inhibitor.
cNSAID:Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
dIQR: inter-quartile range.
+scored 0 to 10, 10 being most severe.