OBJECTIVES

To determine the association of catecholamine dose, lactate concentration, and timing from shock onset at vasopressin initiation with in-hospital mortality.

DESIGN

Retrospective, observational study using segmented and multivariable logistic regression to evaluate the associations of catecholamine dose, lactate concentration, and timing from shock onset at vasopressin initiation with in-hospital mortality.

SETTING

Multiple hospitals within the Cleveland Clinic Health System.

PATIENTS

Adult patients who met criteria for septic shock based on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Adult Sepsis Event definition.

INTERVENTIONS

All patients received continuous infusion vasopressin as an adjunct to catecholamine vasopressors.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

In total, 1,610 patients were included with a mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III 109.0 ± 35.1 and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment 14.0 ± 3.5; 41% of patients survived the hospital admission. At the time of vasopressin initiation, patients had median (interquartile range) lactate concentration 3.9 mmol/L (2.3-7.2 mmol/L), norepinephrine-equivalent dose 25 µg/min (18-40 µg/min), and 5.3 hours (2.1-12.2 hr) elapsed since shock onset. The odds of in-hospital mortality increased 20.7% for every 10 µg/min increase in norepinephrine-equivalent dose up to 60 µg/min at the time of vasopressin initiation (adjusted odds ratio, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.09-1.34]), but no association was detected when the norepinephrine-equivalent dose exceeded 60 µg/min (adjusted odds ratio, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.84-1.10]). There was a significant interaction between timing of vasopressin initiation and lactate concentration (p = 0.02) for the association with in-hospital mortality. A linear association between increasing in-hospital mortality was detected for increasing lactate concentration at the time of vasopressin initiation, but no association was detected for time elapsed from shock onset.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher norepinephrine-equivalent dose at vasopressin initiation and higher lactate concentration at vasopressin initiation were each associated higher in-hospital mortality in patients with septic shock who received vasopressin.