ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFICACY OF THE SERUM LACTATE/ALBUMIN RATIO COMPARED TO LACTATE ALONE OR ALBUMIN ALONE AS A PROGNOSTIC MARKER OF SEPSIS SYNDROME
Main Article Content
Keywords
Sepsis, Lactate/Albumin Ratio, Prognostic Marker, Mortality, Critical Care.
Abstract
Sepsis remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Early identification of high-risk patients is crucial to improving outcomes. While serum lactate and albumin are widely used markers, their combined lactate/albumin (L/A) ratio may better reflect metabolic stress, tissue hypoxia, and inflammatory status. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of the L/A ratio compared to lactate or albumin alone and to assess its predictive accuracy for sepsis-related outcomes.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A retrospective observational study was conducted in the Department of Critical Care Medicine over a period of six months, and included 200 adult patients who were admitted with sepsis (as per SEPSIS-3 criteria). Demographic data, biochemical parameters, and outcomes were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 27. ROC curves were used to assess predictive accuracy, and correlations were analyzed using Pearson’s coefficient. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS
The mean age of participants was 61 ± 14 years; 60.5% were males. Mortality occurred in 61.8% of patients. Mean serum lactate (p = 0.006), L/A ratio (p = 0.004), and procalcitonin (p = 0.002) were significantly higher among non-survivors. The L/A ratio was also significantly associated with a shorter hospital stay (< 14 days; p = 0.034). The ROC curve for the L/A ratio showed an AUC = 0.642 (95% CI: 0.562–0.717, p = 0.0014), indicating moderate discriminatory ability for mortality prediction. The ratio correlated negatively with platelet count (r = –0.208, p = 0.011) and positively with SGPT (r = 0.200, p = 0.016).
CONCLUSION
The serum lactate/albumin ratio serves as a simple, cost-effective prognostic marker for sepsis, demonstrating moderate predictive accuracy for mortality and a shorter hospital stay. It might complement or substitute more complex scoring systems.
References
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Dr. Sushmitha H.S.
Senior Resident, Department of Critical Care Medicine, JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, Karnataka, India.
Dr. Taniya Erum
Senior Resident, Department of Critical Care Medicine, JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, Karnataka, India.
Dr. Shobharani S.
Assistant Professor, Department of Critical Care Medicine, JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, Karnataka, India.