The relationship between lipid levels and clinical outcomes in sepsis patients in the intensive care unit: a retrospective study

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum cholesterol levels (HDL-C, LDL-C, and triglycerides) and clinical outcomes in sepsis patients in an intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: This retrospective study included patients aged >18 years diagnosed with sepsis who were admitted to the Internal Medicine ICUs of Konya City Hospital between June 15, 2021, and March 6, 2024. All data were obtained from routine blood tests of the patients in the ICU. Results: The study included 477 patients (median age, 73 years; females, 45.9%). The median levels of APACHE-II and SOFA scores were 27 (range, 5-55) and 7 (range, 2-19) points, respectively. The survived patients were younger and had lower median APACHE and SOFA scores compared to the non-survived patients (p<0.05 for all). The survived patients had higher levels of platelets, albumin, and HbA1c (p=0.001, p<0.001, and p=0.022, respectively), but significantly lower levels of HDL-C, triglycerides, and C-reactive protein (CRP) compared to the non-survived patients (p=0.026, p=0.011, p=0.034, respectively). In multivariable regression analyses to document independently related parameters, it was found that age (HR: 1.030), SOFA score (HR: 1.891), HDL-C (HR: 1.054), and triglyceride (HR: 1.007) levels were positively and independently related, while acute pancreatitis (HR: 0.057) and albumin levels (HR: 0.428) were inversely related to in-hospital mortality in the study population (all had p-value <0.05). Conclusion: The findings highlight the potential utility of lipid biomarkers in risk assessment and prognostication in critically ill patients, emphasizing the need for further prospective research to elucidate underlying mechanisms and optimize therapeutic strategies for sepsis management in intensive care settings.

Keywords

• Sepsis
• lipid levels
• intensive care unit
• lipid metabolism
• prognosis
• critically ill

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