• N A R Nik Hisamuddin and K Azlan.
• PPSP, USM, Malaysia. nhliza@hotmail.com
• Med. J. Malaysia. 2012 Jun 1;67(3):259-64.

IntroductionIn this study, we sought to determine whether laboratory and physiological parameters can be useful in predicting mortality in patients with sepsis-induced hypotension and septic shock.MethodologyThis prospective cohort study was carried out in the emergency department at an academic medical center. A total of 51 patients met enrollment criteria during the study period and 41 of them were included in the study. Inclusion criteria were patients 18 years old or older, diagnosed to have either sepsis-induced hypotension or septic shock and investigated sepsis marker (blood lactate and leukocytes) measured. Other physiological variables were also measured in this study. The main outcome measure was 30-day mortality. Kaplan-Meier, Log-rank and Cox's methods were used for statistical analysis using SPSS version 12.0.1.Results61% were diagnosed to have sepsis-induced hypotension and 39% were diagnosed with septic shock. Twenty two (54%) deaths occurred within the 30 day follow up. The overall mean blood lactate level and leukocyte counts were 3.52 mmol/L (5D = 2.29) and 11.37 x 109 (SD = 6.38) respectively. A Cox Proportional Hazard Analysis revealed an increase in blood lactate levels in the ED was associated with an increased risk of death (B = 0.35, HR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.22, 1.73, p < 0.001). However no significant correlation between the physiological parameters and the 30-day mortality. Patients with septic shock state prior to initial presentation has a lower 30 day survival compared to any other septic conditions.ConclusionOur results support blood lactate level as a promising risk stratification tool when compared with leukocytes counts and other physiological parameters. The multivariate analysis showed that for every increment of lactate value of 1 mmol/L, the hazards of dying are expected to increase by 1.5 times (p < 0.001).

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