Abstract
Objective: Septic shock is a devastating physiological state with significant mortality risk. Recently, trials have suggested clinical benefits of adjunctive treatment with iHAT. These agents may reduce oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction and endothelial injury in patients with septic shock. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital mortality for patients with septic shock treated with and without intravenous hydrocortisone, ascorbic acid and thiamine (iHAT).
Design: A retrospective cohort study was performed evaluating patients admitted with septic shock requiring vasopressors to the ICU treated with and without iHAT.
Setting: The intensive care unit of a tertiary care academic center in Madison, WI
Patients: Of 3,463 patients admitted to the ICU, 206 met inclusion criteria with 127 treated according to standard care (SC) and 79 receiving additional adjunctive iHAT.
Intervention: Hydrocortisone 50 mg IV q6h, Ascorbic Acid 1500 mg IV q6h and Thiamine 200 mg IV q12h.
Measurements and results: Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) scores were higher in the SC cohort. Observed ICU mortality was lower in the iHAT cohort compared to SC as was APACHE-adjusted ICU mortality (OR 0.44, p=0.043). APACHE-adjusted ICU mortality was lowest when iHAT was initiated within 6 hours (OR 0.08, p<0.01). Hospital mortality, vasopressor duration, initiation of renal replacement therapy and lengths of stay were not significantly different between cohorts.
Conclusion: There was a time-sensitive improvement in APACHE-adjusted ICU mortality in septic shock patients treated with adjunctive iHAT. The strong temporal benefit of iHAT therapy has important implications towards future studies.
Micah T. Long, Mark A. Frommelt, Michael P. Ries, Melissa Murray, Fauzia Osman, Bryan M. Krause, Pierre Kory
