Work

Sepsis-induced coagulopathy and outcomes – What about bleeding? A propensity score-matched study in critically ill patients with septic shock

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Sepsis-induced coagulopathy (SIC) is a scoring system developed for early detection of coagulopathy in sepsis and selection of patients for interventional studies. Our aim was to define the prevalence of SIC in a critically ill population and investigate if SIC at intensive care unit (ICU) admission is associated with morbidity and mortality. METHODS: Patients admitted with septic shock between 2011, and March 2024 were propensity matched into 2 groups (control and SIC). Primary outcome was 28-day mortality. Other outcomes were 90-, 180-day and ICU-mortality, days alive and free of vasopressors, mechanical ventilation and renal replacement therapy (RRT) along with the use of RRT, number of critical bleeding events and red blood cell transfusion. RESULTS: 1367 patients with septic shock were identified, 422 (31%) had SIC at ICU admission. Propensity matching resulted in 340 patients in each group. SIC was not associated with higher 28-day mortality (44% versus 37%, p = 0.091). ICU-mortality was higher in the SIC group (30% versus 22%, p = 0.016) and it had fewer median days alive and free of vasopressors (20 versus 22, p = 0.046). Incidence of critical bleeding events was higher in the SIC group (17% versus 10%, p = 0.009). More patients in the SIC group required red blood cell transfusion (63% versus 53%, p = 0.009). There was no significant difference in other outcomes. CONCLUSION: SIC was prevalent in 31% of patients at ICU admission and was associated with higher ICU-mortality, fewer days alive and free of vasopressors, more critical bleeding events and more red blood cell transfusions.

Source: Journal of Critical Care

DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2026.155542

Authors: Kristján Víðisson, Thomas Kander, Maria Lengquist, Lisa Mellhammar, Adam Linder, Caroline Ulfsdotter Nilsson

Institutions: Lund University, Skåne University Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Sepsis Diagnosis and Treatment

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,610