Acta Clin Belg
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Although blood lactate concentrations have an established prognostic value in circulatory shock or after cardiac arrest, their relationship with morbidity and length of stay in general intensive care unit (ICU) populations has not been well defined. ⋯ Our study documents a direct relationship between the serum lactate level on ICU admission and not only the risk of death in ICU but also the length of ICU stay. Hyperlactataemic survivors have a longer LOS and non-survivors a shorter LOS than normal lactate survivors and non-survivors, respectively.