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The incidence and outcome of severe hyperlactatemia in critically ill patients

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Abstract

This study aimed to assess the incidence, persistence, and associated mortality of severe hyperlactatemia in a large cohort of unselected critically ill patients. Also, we evaluated the association between 12 h lactate clearance, the timing of severe hyperlactatemia, and the maximum lactate levels with ICU mortality. In this retrospective, single-center study, we used data from the Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III) database. Data extracted to screen 23,598 ICU patients for severe hyperlactatemia. A total of 23,598 critically ill patients were eligible for this study. Overall, ICU mortality in the 23,598 ICU patients was 12.1%. Of these, 760 patients had lactate concentration \(\ge\) 10 mmol/L and ICU mortality in this group was 65%. Our findings confirm the association between hyperlactatemia and ICU mortality [odds ratio 1.42 (95% CI 1.35; 1.49; P < 0.001)]. Data for 12 h lactate clearance was available for 443 patients (276 nonsurvivable vs. 167 survival). 12 h lactate clearance yielded a high area under the curve (AUC) of 0.78, (95% CI 0.74 and 0.83). Severe hyperlactatemia is associated with extremely high ICU mortality in a heterogeneous ICU population. Lactate derived variables (the timing and persistence of severe hyperlactatemia, maximum level, and 12 h clearance) are shown to be associated with ICU mortality in patients with severe hyperlactatemia. Our results suggest that maximum lactate level and 12 h lactate clearance were clinically useful prognostic parameters for patients with severe hyperlactatemia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Business School, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Australia

    Amin Gharipour

  2. Department of Management and Information Systems, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA

    Rouzbeh Razavi

  3. Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Esfahan, Iran

    Mojgan Gharipour

  4. School of Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Australia

    Reza Modarres

  5. Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Pouya Nezafati

  6. Internal Medicine Department, MedStar Health, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Nooshin Mirkheshti

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  1. Amin Gharipour
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Correspondence to Mojgan Gharipour.

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Gharipour, A., Razavi, R., Gharipour, M. et al. The incidence and outcome of severe hyperlactatemia in critically ill patients. Intern Emerg Med 16, 115–123 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11739-020-02337-9

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