Ulinastatin shortens the length of ICU stay in critical patients with organ failure: A 7-year real-world study.

BACKGROUND

Ulinastatin has been applied in a series of diseases associated with inflammation but its clinical effects remain somewhat elusive.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the potential effects of ulinastatin on organ failure patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

METHODS

This is a single-center retrospective study on organ failure patients from 2013 to 2019. Patients were divided into two groups according to using ulinastatin or not during hospitalization. Propensity score matching was applied to reduce bias. The outcomes of interest were 28-day all-cause mortality, length of ICU stay, and mechanical ventilation duration.

RESULTS

Of the 841 patients who fulfilled the entry criteria, 247 received ulinastatin. A propensity-matched cohort of 608 patients was created. No significant differences in 28-day mortality between the two groups. Sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) was identified as the independent risk factor associated with mortality. In the subgroup with SOFA ≤ 10, patients received ulinastatin experienced significantly shorter time in ICU (10.0 d [interquartile range, IQR: 7.0∼20.0] vs 15.0 d [IQR: 7.0∼25.0]; = .004) and on mechanical ventilation (222 h [IQR:114∼349] vs 251 h [IQR: 123∼499]; = .01), but the 28-day mortality revealed no obvious difference (10.5% vs 9.4%; = .74).

CONCLUSION

Ulinastatin was beneficial in treating patients in ICU with organ failure, mainly by reducing the length of ICU stay and duration of mechanical ventilation.