ICU-acquired hyperchloraemia

Acquired hyperchloraemia was defined as normal chloride at ICU admission followed by hyperchloraemia 48 hours later. Sensitivity analyses consistently supported the association between acquired hyperchloraemia and higher in-hospital mortality. Patients with acquired hyperchloraemia had higher in-hospital mortality than patients with persistent normochloraemia. After adjustment, ICU-acquired hyperchloraemia remained independently associated with increased all-cause in-hospital mortality. ICU-acquired hyperchloraemia was the study's main exposure of interest among patients with normal chloride at ICU admission.