The impact of obesity in cirrhotic patients with septic shock: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The prevalence of obesity in cirrhosis is rising. The impact of obesity in critically ill cirrhotic patients with sepsis/septic shock has not been evaluated. This study aimed to examine the relationship between obesity and mortality in cirrhotic patients admitted to the intensive care unit with septic shock. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of all cirrhotic patients with septic shock (n = 362) and a recorded body mass index (BMI) from an international, multicentre (CATSS) database (1996-2015) was performed. Patients were classified by BMI as per WHO categories. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out to determine independent associations with outcome. RESULTS: In this analysis, mean age was 56.4 years, and 62% were male. Median BMI was 26.3%, and 57.7% were overweight/obese. In-hospital mortality was 71%. Obese patients were more likely to have comorbidities of cardiac disease, lung disease and diabetes. Compared to survivors (n = 105), non-survivors (n = 257) had significantly higher MELD and APACHEII scores and higher requirements for renal replacement therapy and mechanical ventilation (P < .03 for all). Using multivariable logistic regression, increase in BMI (OR 1.07, P = .034), time delay to appropriate antimicrobials (OR 1.16 per hour, P = .003), APACHEII (OR 1.12 per unit, P = .008) and peak lactate (OR 1.15, P = .028) were independently associated with in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Septic shock in cirrhosis carries a high mortality. Increased BMI is common in critically ill cirrhotic patients and independently associated with increased in-hospital mortality.

Patient and Organizational Factors Associated With Delays in Antimicrobial Therapy for Septic Shock.

OBJECTIVES: To identify clinical and organizational factors associated with delays in antimicrobial therapy for septic shock. DESIGN: In a retrospective cohort of critically ill patients with septic shock. SETTING: Twenty-four ICUs. PATIENTS: A total of 6,720 patients with septic shock. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Higher Acute Physiology Score (+24 min per 5 Acute Physiology Score points; p < 0.0001); older age (+16 min per 10 yr; p < 0.0001); presence of comorbidities (+35 min; p < 0.0001); hospital length of stay before hypotension: less than 3 days (+50 min; p < 0.0001), between 3 and 7 days (+121 min; p < 0.0001), and longer than 7 days (+130 min; p < 0.0001); and a diagnosis of pneumonia (+45 min; p < 0.01) were associated with longer times to antimicrobial therapy. Two variables were associated with shorter times to antimicrobial therapy: community-acquired infections (-53 min; p < 0.001) and higher temperature (-15 min per 1°C; p < 0.0001). After adjusting for confounders, admissions to academic hospitals (+52 min; p< 0.05), and transfers from medical wards (medical vs surgical ward admission; +39 min; p < 0.05) had longer times to antimicrobial therapy. Admissions from the emergency department (emergency department vs surgical ward admission, -47 min; p< 0.001) had shorter times to antimicrobial therapy. CONCLUSIONS: We identified clinical and organizational factors that can serve as evidence-based targets for future quality-improvement initiatives on antimicrobial timing. The observation that academic hospitals are more likely to delay antimicrobials should be further explored in future trials.