Abstract

Increased levels of blood lactate have shown adverse outcomes as mortality where assessing blood lactate levels is vital in each subject with septic shock and severe sepsis as it can lead to tissue hypoxia and hypoperfusion. Aim: The present study aimed to assess the association of initial blood lactate levels with mortality and resultant septic shock in non-shock septic subjects. Methods: The present retrospective study assessed 224 subjects with sepsis admitted to a non-critical department and with the initial levels of serum lactate in the emergency ward. The subjects with hyperlactatemia of any other etiology were not considered for the study. Results: The most common cause of sepsis was pneumonia in 44.5% (n=213) of subjects. More iv fluid was administered in Group II with high lactate levels compared to the low lactate group with p<0.001. Also, iv fluid of >1500ml was administered in 24 subjects from Group II and 6 subjects from group I with p<0.001. A high frequency of initial positive hemoculture was seen in 30 subjects of Group II compared to 13 subjects from Group I (p=0.00. 3 days of septic shock was seen in 5 subjects from Group I which was significantly lower compared to Group II where it was reported in 23 subjects with p<0.001. 28 days mortality was reported in 40 subjects from Group II compared to 10 subjects from Group I (p<0.001). Conclusion: Septic shock and high mortality are associated with initial blood lactate levels of ≥2 mmol/L in subjects with non-shock sepsis. Mortality in subjects can be better predicted with more accuracy with other predictive scores and composites of blood lactate levels

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