title: SOFA score and left ventricular systolic function as predictors of short-term outcome in patients with sepsis.
abstract: In a group of septic patients, we assess the short-term prognostic value of LV systolic performance, evaluated through conventional left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV GLS). One hundred forty-seven patients with sepsis were recruited; LVEF by planimetry and peak GLS by 2D speckle tracking could be assessed within 24 h. The study population was stratified according to SOFA tertiles assessed at the time of the echocardiogram (G1: SOFA score <5; G2: SOFA score 5-7; G3: SOFA score >7). Day-7 follow-up data were used as reference. Patients in G2 and G3 show a significant hemodynamic derangement, paralleling the more pronounced organ damage by definition; nevertheless, LVEF and GLS are comparable among the three groups (both p > 0.1). All-cause mortality at day-7 follow-up is slightly lower in G1 (9%) versus G2 and G3 (14 and 26%, respectively, p = NS). Analyses through ROC curves focusing on day-7 mortality show that the SOFA score fairly correlates with events (AUC 0.635, p = 0.037), while low LVEF (AUC 0.35, p = 0.022) and less negative GLS (AUC 0.73, p = 0.001) do so. In multivariate analyses, mortality by day-7 follow-up is more likely per higher GLS (i.e., indicative of worst systolic dysfunction, HR 1.22/%, p = 0.005) and per increasing SOFA score (HR 1.22/unit, p = 0.010), whereas LVEF, adjusted for age and SOFA score, does not enter the prognostic model. In the very short term in patients with severe sepsis, LV systolic function assessment by means of GLS predicts the short-term prognosis, independent of SOFA.
authors.affiliation: High-Dependency Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Lg. Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy. francescaeluigi@libero.it.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7805-7619
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Innocenti
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, Department of Heart and Vessels, SG Moscati National Hospital, Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Palmieri
authors.affiliation: High-Dependency Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Lg. Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Aurelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guzzo
authors.affiliation: High-Dependency Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Lg. Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Valerio Teodoro
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Stefanone
authors.affiliation: High-Dependency Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Lg. Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Donnini
authors.affiliation: High-Dependency Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Lg. Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063305:Organ Dysfunction Scores; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018805:Sepsis / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications*
keywords: LV systolic function; Prognostic scores; Sepsis