Premorbid beta blockade in sepsis is associated with a lower risk of a lactate concentration above the lactate threshold, a retrospective cohort study.

Sepsis and septic shock represent a significant worldwide mortality burden. A lactate greater than 4 mmol/L is associated with increased mortality in septic patients. This is the concentration at the "lactate threshold" where serum lactate concentrations rise markedly with increased workload in exercise.