Burden of pneumococcal pneumonia requiring ICU admission in France: 1-year prognosis, resources use, and costs

Assessing the economic impact and healthcare resource utilization of inpatient pneumococcal disease among adults: a French national claims database study

BACKGROUND

Pneumococcal diseases (PD) caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae include invasive PD (IPD) and non-bacteremia pneumococcal pneumonia (NBPP). Current French vaccination guidelines focus on patients with underlying medical conditions (UMC) who are at a higher risk of PD. This study describes the healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and economic burden of inpatient PD in French adults, to inform vaccination guidelines, especially among vulnerable subpopulations at increased risk of PD.

METHODS

A retrospective study utilizing the French administrative healthcare database (SNDS) was conducted among adults with an inpatient PD episode between 2015 and 2018. HCRU and costs were described per inpatient PD episode, according to patient risk level, type of PD, and age group.

RESULTS

Between 2015 and 2018, 42,466 inpatient PD episodes were identified. Most of the inpatient PD episodes (73.7%) occurred in patients with UMCs. The median (Q1-Q3) cost per inpatient PD episode seemed higher among medium-risk patients (€14,863 (€7,875-€30,434)) than among low-risk (€11,034 (€5,803-€23,098)) and high-risk patients (€13,258 (€7,143-€26,815)). Cost per inpatient PD episode did not seem to increase steadily with age, however, ≥65 patients represented 59.5% of all inpatient PD episodes and 52.3% of the overall inpatient PD episodes cost (€548,224,569 out of €1,049,214,069).

LIMITATIONS

Due to constraints of the SNDS dataset, results are limited to inpatient episodes of PD and may not be representative of all PD episodes in France.

CONCLUSION

This large, retrospective study highlights a substantial economic burden associated with inpatient PD in France, especially among individuals with UMCs and those aged 65 years or over. These results emphasize the need to improve prevention strategies, especially among older patients, regardless of their risk level.

Prediction of mortality risk in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia in the intensive care unit using machine learning

The aim of this study was to develop and validate a machine learning-based mortality risk prediction model for patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP) in the intensive care unit (ICU). We collected data from two centers as the development and external validation cohorts. Variables were screened using the Recursive Feature Elimination method. Five machine learning algorithms were used to build predictive models. Models were evaluated through nested cross-validation to select the best one. The model was interpreted using Shapley Additive Explanations. We selected the optimal model to generate the web calculator. A total of 23 predictive features were selected. The Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) model had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.842 (95% CI: 0.757-0.927), with an external 5-fold cross-validation average AUC of 0.842 ± 0.038, which was superior to the other models. External validation results also demonstrated good performance by the LightGBM model with an AUC of 0.856 (95% CI: 0.792-0.921). Based on this, we generated a web calculator by combining five high importance predictive factors. The LightGBM model was confirmed to be efficient and stable in predicting the mortality risk of patients with SCAP admitted to the ICU. The web calculator based on the LightGBM model can provide clinicians with a prognostic evaluation tool.

Management cost of acute respiratory infections in older adults in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Acute respiratory infection (ARI) poses a significant public health challenge worldwide, particularly among older adults. Understanding the cost of ARI management is important for optimising intervention strategy. We aimed to estimate the management cost of ARI in older adults in China.

Methods

We searched three English databases (MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science) and four Chinese databases (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, SinoMed, and VIP) to identify studies published between 1 January 1995 and 27 February 2023 on the cost of ARI management in older adults in China. We pooled up age group and category-specific costs across individual studies by calculating median and interquartile range (IQR). All cost results were converted and inflated to USD in 2021.

Results

We included 99 studies, of which 50 were determined as high quality. In those aged >60 years, the median total cost of ARI, including direct medical, direct non-medical, and indirect cost, was USD 3263 (IQR = 2676-3786) in the inpatient setting and USD 104 (IQR = 80-129) in the outpatient setting. For both inpatient and outpatient settings, direct medical costs accounted for most of the costs (69.3% and 54.8%, respectively). There was an increasing trend over age in the median direct medical cost in the inpatient setting, ranging from USD 1517 (IQR = 1114-2017) in those aged ≥50 years to USD 3493 (IQR = 2608-4378) in those aged ≥80 years.

Conclusions

Our study fills the knowledge gap on the cost of ARI and suggests that the overall cost of ARI is substantial among older adults in China. Cost data stratified by region, pathogen, and presence of comorbidities are warranted to help further identify subpopulations with higher ARI management costs.

Registration

PROSPERO CRD42023485669.

Survival at 3, 6 and 12 months in patients diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia in Colombia: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The primary aim of this study is to assess the survival rates of individuals diagnosed with Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) post-hospitalization in Colombia. Additionally, explore potential risk factors associated with decreased long-term survival.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a hospital in Colombia, evaluating survival at 3, 6 and 12 months in CAP patients, using the Kaplan-Meier method. Stratifications were made by age, sex, comorbidity, and severity. The comparison of survival curves was performed using the Log-Rank test, a multivariate analysis with Cox regression was performed to study possible risk factors that affected 12-month survival in patients with CAP.

RESULTS

3688 subjects were admitted, with a mortality of 16.3 % per year. Survival at three, six, and twelve months was 92.9 % (95 % CI 92-93 %), 88.8 % (95 % CI 87-90 %), and 84.2 % (95 % CI 82-85 %), respectively. Analysis stratified by pneumonia severity index, 12-month survival was 98.7 % in Class I, 95.6 % in Class II, 87.41 % in Class III, 77.1 % in Class IV, and 65.8 % in class-V (p < 0.001). Cox-regression showed that being male (HR = 1.44; 95 % CI 1.22‒1.70; p < 0.001), an elevated pneumonia severity index (HR = 4.22; 95 % CI 1.89‒9.43; p < 0.001), a high comorbidity index (HR = 2.29; 95 % CI 1.89‒2.84; p < 0.001) and vasopressor requirement (HR = 2.22; 95 % CI < 0.001) were associated with a lower survival at twelve months of follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Survival in patients with CAP who require hospitalization decreases at 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up, being lower in patients older than 65 years, men, high comorbidity, and in subjects with severe presentation of the disease.

Hospital Burden of All-Cause Pneumonia and Nonbacteremic Pneumococcal Pneumonia in Adults in France Between 2013 and 2019

Background

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The study objective was to describe the hospital burden of pneumonia in the adult population in France.

Methods

This retrospective study was conducted from the National Health Insurance Database. All hospitalizations for pneumonia (all-cause) between 2013 and 2019 were included. Different risk categories for patients were established based on pneumococcal vaccine recommendations by French health authorities.

Results

A total of 2 199 240 episodes of CAP were registered over the study period (annual mean, 314 177 [standard deviation, 17 818.6]); 75% occurred in patients aged ≥65 years, among whom 47% were not classified in the moderate- or high-risk categories recommended for French pneumococcal vaccination. The incidence of CAP increased with age (117.9, 395.3, and 1916.7 per 100 000 for the age groups 18-49, 50-64, and ≥65 years, respectively, in 2019). Furthermore, being at risk of pneumococcal disease resulted in more severe outcomes, including longer episode duration (mean, 14 days in low-risk vs 17 days in high-risk patients) and higher risk of referral to critical care units (from 20% to 27%), of rehospitalization up to 180 days (from 39% to 67%), of in-hospital death (from 12% to 19%), and of 1-year mortality (from 26% to 49%).

Conclusions

This study establishes the incidence of CAP in adults in France, describes the significant burden of disease, and highlights the need for better prevention policies.

Community-acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia in ICU: a multicenter retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Alongside the recent worldwide expansion of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) infections, the available literature regarding cases of community acquired pneumonias (KP-CAP) remains scarce but reports a strikingly high and early mortality. We performed a retrospective multicenter study (7 ICU in France) between 2015 and 2019, comparing prognosis and severity of KP-CAP versus Streptococcus pneumoniae - CAP (SP-CAP).

METHODS

For each KP-CAP, three SP-CAP admitted in ICUs within the same center and within the same 6-month window were selected. When available, KP strains were studied, and bacterial virulence was genetically assessed for virulence factors. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Associations between clinical outcomes and type of infection were tested using univariate and multivariate logistic regressions, adjusted for pairing variables.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven KP-CAP and 81 SP-CAP were included. Respective in-hospital mortality rates were 59% (n = 16) and 17% (n = 14, p < 0.001), despite adequate antibiotic therapy. KP-CAP median time from admission to death was 26.9 h [IQR 5.75-44 h] and were significantly associated with higher rates of multiple organ failures (93% vs. 42%, p < 0.001), disseminated intravascular coagulation (12% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.046), septic shock (median lactate on ICU admission 4.60 vs. 2.90 mmol/L, p = 0.030) and kidney failure (KDIGO-3: 87% vs. 44%, p < 0.001). Interestingly, alcoholism was the only identified predisposing factor of KP-CAP. Severity on ICU admission (2-fold higher for KP-CAP) was the only factor associated with mortality in a multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

We described a strong association between KP-CAP infection and higher and earlier mortality when compared to SP-CAP. Moreover, alcoholism was the sole predisposing factor associated with KP-CAP infection. These findings should raise awareness of clinicians involved in the management of severe CAP about this microbiological etiology. Future prospective studies are needed to confirm these results and to design strategies to improve the prognosis of such infections.

Diabetes Mellitus and Pneumococcal Pneumonia

Currently, there are more than 500 million people suffering from diabetes around the world. People aged 65 years or older are the most affected by this disease, and it is estimated that approximately 96% of diabetes cases worldwide are type 2 diabetes. People with diabetes mellitus are at an increased risk of infections such as pneumonia, due to a series of factors that may contribute to immune dysfunction, including hyperglycemia, inhibition of neutrophil chemotaxis, impaired cytokine production, phagocytic cell dysfunction, altered T cell-mediated immune responses and the co-existence of chronic comorbidities. Rates of infection, hospitalization and mortality in diabetic patients are reported to be higher than in the general population. Research into the risk of infectious diseases such as pneumonia in these patients is very important because it will help improve their management and treatment.

Long-Term Outcomes in Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is globally one of the major causes of hospitalization and mortality. Severe CAP (sCAP) presents great challenges and need a comprehensive understanding of its long-term outcomes. Cardiovascular events and neurological impairment, due to persistent inflammation and hypoxemia, contribute to long-term outcomes in CAP, including mortality. Very few data are available in the specific population of sCAP. Multiple studies have reported variable 1-year mortality rates for patients with CAP up to 40.7%, with a clear influence by age, comorbidities, and disease severity. In terms of treatment, the potential protective role of macrolides in reducing mortality emphasizes the importance of appropriate empiric antibiotic therapy. This narrative review explores the growing interest in the literature focusing on the long-term implications of sCAP. Improved understanding of long-term outcomes in sCAP can facilitate targeted interventions and enhance posthospitalization care protocols.

Meningitis in critically ill patients admitted to intensive care unit for severe community-acquired pneumococcal pneumonia

BACKGROUND

Although it has been reported that patients with pneumococcal pneumonia may develop meningitis, lumbar puncture is not systematically recommended in these patients, even in patients with associated bacteremia or invasive pneumococcal disease. The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics and outcomes of patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) for pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia who developed meningitis.

METHODS

We retrospectively included all consecutive patients admitted to our ICU from January 2006 to December 2020 for severe pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia according to American Thoracic Society criteria. Meningitis was defined as pleocytosis > 5 cells/mm3 or a positive culture of cerebrospinal fluid for Streptococcus pneumoniae in lumbar puncture. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with meningitis during their ICU stay.

RESULTS

Overall, 262 patients [64(52-75) years old] were included: 154(59%) were male, 80(30%) had chronic respiratory disease, 105(39%) were immunocompromised and 6(2%) were vaccinated against S. pneumoniae. A lumbar puncture was performed in 88(34%) patients with a delay from ICU admission to puncture lumbar of 10.5 (2.8-24.1) h and after the initiation of pneumococcal antibiotherapy in 81(92%) patients. Meningitis was diagnosed in 14 patients: 16% of patients with lumbar puncture and 5% of patients in the whole population. Patients with meningitis had more frequently human immunodeficiency virus positive status (29 vs. 5%, p = 0.02), neurological deficits on ICU admission (43 vs. 16%, p = 0.03) and pneumococcal bacteremia (71 vs. 30%, p < 0.01) than those without. The ICU mortality rate (14 vs. 13%, p = 0.73) and the mortality rate at Day-90 (21 vs. 15%, p = 0.83) did not differ between patients with and without meningitis. The proportion of patients with neurological disorders at ICU discharge was higher in patients with meningitis (64 vs. 23%, p < 0.001) than in those without. The other outcomes did not differ at ICU discharge, Day-30 and Day-90 between the two groups of patients.

CONCLUSION

Meningitis was diagnosed in 16% of patients with severe pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia in whom a lumbar puncture was performed, was more frequent in patients with pneumococcal bacteremia and was associated with more frequent neurological disorders at ICU discharge. Further studies are needed to confirm these results.

Predictors and Impact of Pneumonia on Adverse Outcomes in Inhalation Injury Patients

Inhalation injury (II) is the third mortality prognostic factor for burn injury following age and burn size. II can lead to pulmonary complications such as pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); all of which have been hypothesized to increase morbidity and mortality in II. Herein, we aimed to identify variables associated with the risk of developing pneumonia and to determine the impact of pneumonia on selected II outcomes. De-identified data from the Prospective Inhalation Study titled Inhalation Injury Scoring System to Predict Inhalation Injury Severity (ISIS) were used. II was confirmed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Demographics, injury, and hospital course information were recorded. P < .05 was considered significant. One hundred subjects were included. On univariate analysis, pneumonia was associated with burn severity, race, and receipt of colloid during the first 24 hours. Patients who developed pneumonia spent more time on a ventilator, had longer hospitalizations (LOS) and were more likely to need a tracheostomy. On multivariate analysis, total number of ventilator days was associated with pneumonia (Odd ratio (OR) = 1.122 [1.048-1.200], P = .001). Both pneumonia and receipt of colloid were predictive of increased ventilator days (OR = 2.545 [1.363-4.753], P < .001 and OR = 2.809 [1.548-5.098], P < .001, respectively). Pneumonia was not an independent predictor of LOS, ARDS, or mortality. Pneumonia remains a high-risk complication associated with two times more ventilator days in II. Future research should focus on prevention of pneumonia and the relationship between colloid fluids and pneumonia and early ventilator liberation in II patients.

Interventions to improve outcomes in community-acquired pneumonia

INTRODUCTION

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common infection associated with high morbimortality and a highly deleterious impact on patients' quality of life and functionality. We comprehensively review the factors related to the host, the causative microorganism, the therapeutic approach and the organization of health systems (e.g. setting for care and systems for allocation) that might have an impact on CAP-associated outcomes. Our main aims are to discuss the most controversial points and to provide some recommendations that may guide further research and the management of patients with CAP, in order to improve their outcomes, beyond mortality.

AREA COVERED

In this review, we aim to provide a critical account of potential measures to improve outcomes of CAP and the supporting evidence from observational studies and clinical trials.

EXPERT OPINION

CAP is associated with high mortality and a highly deleterious impact on patients' quality of life. To improve CAP-associated outcomes, it is important to understand the factors related to the patient, etiology, therapeutics, and the organization of health systems.

Burden of Acute-Care Hospitalization for Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Canadian Adults Aged 50 Years or Older: Focusing on Most Responsible Diagnosis Tells Only Part of the Story

The burden of all-cause community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), including pneumococcal pneumonia, is typically estimated using ICD codes where pneumonia is coded as the most responsible diagnosis (MRDx). Pneumonia may also be coded as other than most responsible diagnosis (ODx) based on administrative and reimbursement criteria. Analyses including pneumonia as MRDx only likely underestimate hospitalized CAP incidence. The aim of this study was to estimate the burden of hospitalized all-cause CAP in Canada and to assess the contribution of ODx-coded cases to the overall disease burden. This longitudinal retrospective study obtained data from the Canadian Institutes of Health Information (CIHI) for adults 50+ years hospitalized for CAP between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2019. Cases were identified as those where pneumonia was either diagnosis code type M (MRDx) or pre-admit comorbidity type 1 (ODx). Reported outcomes include pneumonia incidence rate, in-hospital mortality, hospital length of stay, and cost. Outcomes were stratified by age group, case coding, and comorbidity. Between 2009–2010 and 2018–2019, CAP incidence increased from 805.66 to 896.94 per 100,000. During this time, 55–58% of cases had pneumonia coded as ODx. Importantly, these cases had longer hospital stays, higher in-hospital mortality, and higher cost of hospitalization. The burden of CAP remains substantial and is significantly greater than that estimated by solely focusing on MRDx-coded cases. Our findings have implications for policy decision making related to current and future immunization programs.

Clinical, economic, and humanistic burden of community acquired pneumonia in Europe: a systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is an infectious lung inflammation contracted outside the hospital. CAP is a leading cause of death among young children, elderly, and immunocompromised persons. Incidence can reach 14 cases/1,000 adults. Up to 50% of cases require inpatient hospitalization. Mortality is 0.7/1,000 cases or 4 million deaths per year. We sought to summarize multi-dimensional burden of CAP for selected European countries.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic literature review of literature published from 2011 to 2021 whereby we sought information pertaining to the epidemiologic, clinical, economic, and humanistic burden of CAP. Findings were summarized descriptively.

RESULTS

CAP incidence in Europe is variable, with the highest burden among those of advanced age and with chronic comorbidities. Etiology is primarily bacterial infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae being the most frequently implicated. Direct medical costs are primarily attributable to inpatient stay, which is exacerbated among high-risk populations. Higher mortality rates are associated with increasing age, the need for inpatient hospitalization, and antibiotic resistance.

CONCLUSIONS

A better understanding of CAP is needed, specifically the economic and quality of life burden on patients and caregivers. We recommend further assessments using population-level and real-world data employing consistent disease definitions.

Impact of establishing a respiratory high dependency unit for SCAP patients on the therapeutic effect, prognosis, and expenditure: a retrospective case-control study

To explore the effects of establishing a high dependency unit (HDU) on the prognosis, outcome, and expenditure of patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP). 108 SCAP patients were recruited from the respiratory intensive care unit (RICU) of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China. Of these, 87 qualified the study-selection criteria and were divided into HDU group (treated in HDU after discharge from RICU prior to transfer to normal unit) (n = 40) and normal group (not treated in the HDU) (n = 47). In the 87 patients, 40 were divided into HDU group, which meant they transferring to HDU when got stable while another 47 were divided into normal group which meant they staying longer in RICU and transferring to normal unit when got stable. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores, duration of mechanical ventilation, hospital infection, intensive care unit syndrome, length of stay, and expenditure were compared between the two groups. The primary outcome was discharging from hospital while the secondary outcome was length of stay. There was no significant difference with respect to noninvasive ventilation time, oxygenation index, or APACHE II and SOFA scores at admission or discharge from RICU (P > 0.05). The mean invasive ventilation time (176 ± 160 h) of the HDU group was not significantly different from that in the normal group (206 ± 179 h). The period of sequential noninvasive ventilation in the HDU group (135 ± 82 h) was significantly shorter than that in the normal group (274 ± 182 h, P < 0.05). The HDU group had a shorter length of stay in hospital and RICU, and incurred lesser expenditure than patients in the normal group (P < 0.05). Patients in HDU group had almost the same therapeutic effect with shorter length of stay in hospital and RICU, and lesser expenditure.

Risk factors for hospital-acquired pneumonia among inpatients with mental disorders in a large mental health center within a tertiary general hospital

BACKGROUND

Few researchers have investigated the incidence of and risk factors for hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) among inpatients with mental disorders in a general hospital.

METHODS

This study included patients with mental disorders hospitalized in a large mental health center (situated in a general hospital) between January 1, 2017 and July 31, 2021 (excluding January 1, 2020 to May 31, 2020). Risk factors for HAP were identified by logistic regression analysis after propensity score matching (PSM, 1:4) for gender, age, duration of observation and hospital ward.

RESULTS

The study included 16,864 patients. HAP incidence rate was 1.15% overall, 2.11% on closed wards, 0.75% on open wards, 4.45% in patients with organic mental disorders, 1.80% in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, and 0.84% in patients with mood disorders. Risk factors for HAP after PSM were hypoproteinemia, chronic liver disease, use of clozapine, hospitalization during the previous 180 days, body mass index (BMI) ≤18.5 kg/m², cholinesterase inhibitor use and mood stabilizer use.

CONCLUSION

HAP was common among inpatients with mental disorders. Risk factors for HAP in patients with mental disorders include hypoproteinemia, chronic liver disease, hospitalization during the past 180 days, BMI ≤18.5 kg/m², and use of clozapine, cholinesterase inhibitors or mood stabilizers.

Severe community-acquired pneumonia in Reunion Island: Epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological characteristics, 2016-2018

PURPOSE

No data are available on severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the French overseas department of Reunion Island. This is unfortunate as the microorganisms responsible for the disease are likely to differ from those in temperate regions due to a tropical climate and proximity to other islands of the Indian Ocean region. The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiological, clinical, prognosis, and microbiological characteristics of patients with severe CAP in Reunion Island.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study evaluated all patients with CAP aged >18 years and hospitalized in one of the two intensive care units of Reunion Island between 2016 and 2018. Microorganisms were identified by culture from blood and respiratory samples, multiplex polymerase chain reaction from respiratory samples, urinary antigen tests, and serology.

RESULTS

Over the study period, 573 cases of severe CAP were recorded, with a mean incidence of 22 per 100,000 person-years. The most frequently isolated microorganism was influenza (21.9%) followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (12%). The influenza virus was detected in affected patients all year round. Twenty-four patients with severe CAP came from another island of the Indian Ocean region (4.2%), mainly Madagascar (>50%). Two of these patients presented with melioidosis and 4 were infected with Acinetobacter spp.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings have major implications for the management of severe CAP in tropical regions. The most frequently isolated microorganism in patients with severe CAP in Reunion Island is influenza followed by S. pneumoniae. Physicians should be aware that influenza is the main cause of severe CAP in patients living in or returning from Reunion Island, where this virus circulates all year round.

Cortisol in Peripheral Blood Predicts the Severity and Prognosis in Patients with Liver Failure at 90 Days

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the cortisol level in peripheral blood in evaluating the severity and prognosis of patients with liver failure.

METHODS

A total of 211 inpatients with liver failure were enrolled in Beijing You 'an Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University, from September 2018 to January 2020. They were divided into three groups according to the severity of liver failure: early-stage liver failure, medium-stage liver failure and end-stage liver failure. In all patients, peripheral venous blood was gathered to detect the level of peripheral cortisol and related biochemical indexes. Logistic regression was used to screen the risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients at 90 days. A receiver operating curve (ROC) was used to reflect the value of cortisol on the prognosis of patients at 90 days. A model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) was accessed.

RESULTS

Among these 211 patients with liver failure, aged from 19 to 70 years, the average level of cortisol was 351.26 ± 129.78 nmol/L for 101 cases with early-stage liver failure, 281.05 ± 81.31 nmol/L for 58 cases with medium-stage liver failure, and 189.21 ± 89.27 nmol/L for 52 cases with end-stage liver failure (P < 0.05). The level of cortisol in the survival group and the non-survival group was 339.26 ± 121.19 nmol/L and 192.71 ± 67.23 nmol/L, respectively (P < 0.05). The results of logistics regression analysis showed that the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of cortisol were 1.025 and 1.013-1.038 nmol/L (P < 0.05). MELD results showed that patients with higher MELD scores had lower cortisol content.

CONCLUSION

The level of cortisol is correlated with the severity of liver failure and decreases with the aggravation of liver failure, suggesting that the level of cortisol could be used as one of the indicators to evaluate the prognosis in patients with liver failure at 90 days.