Reduction in the IL-6 level at 24 h after admission to the intensive care unit is a survival predictor for Vietnamese patients with sepsis and septic shock: a prospective study.

Background: Sepsis and septic shock are common problems in intensive care units (ICUs). The mortality of patients with sepsis or septic shock is high. We investigated if reduction in the serum concentration of the cytokines tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10, and the rate of change in the IL-6 level at 24 h after ICU admission were survival predictors for patients with sepsis and septic shock in a Vietnamese population.

Methods: This was a prospective study conducted at an ICU in Cho Ray Hospital, Vietnam, from October 2014 to October 2016. Patients diagnosed with sepsis or septic shock using validated international guidelines were enrolled. Plasma samples were collected upon (T) and 24 h after (T) ICU admission for measurement of cytokine concentrations. Blood tests were done to detect organ dysfunction. The duration of ICU stays, hospital stay, APACHE II and SOFA scores, and the in-hospital mortality were compared between survival and non-survival groups. Univariate logistic regression and multivariate analysis were done to determine the association between survival and IL-6 reduction at 24 h after ICU admission.

Results: A total of 123 patients were enrolled. The concentration (in pg/mL) of IL-6 at T was 413.3 in survivors and 530.0 in non- survivors. At T, the IL-6 level was 65.4 for survivors and 286.9 for non-survivors. The survival rate was 39.0%. At T, the concentrations of IL-6 and the reduction in IL-6 level were predictors of survival in patients with sepsis and septic shock. We found a significant association between IL-6 reduction and survival at ≥86% with Odds Ratio (OR) 5.67, 95% Confidence Interval (CI); 1.27-25.3, compared with an increase in the IL-6 rate of change.

Conclusions: Our findings suggested that a reduction in the IL-6 level of ≥86% at 24 h from ICU admission is a survival predictor for patients with sepsis and septic shock in our population.