Effect of dysnatremia and dysglycemia on outcomes among surgical intensive care unit patients

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the relationships between serum sodium and glucose concentrations and outcomes among patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit. Patient records admitted to the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) between July 2020 and December 2020 were used in the study. Data included in the analysis were patient age, gender, comorbidities, surgical intervention, diagnosis of sepsis, sequential organ system failure scores, serum sodium concentrations, serum glucose concentrations, and surgical intensive care unit outcomes (discharged vs. deceased). A univariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine significant risk factors for mortality during a surgical intensive care unit stay. A total of 194 patients with a mean age of 60±16 years were admitted to the SICU during the study period. Twenty-three percent of the patients were found to have sepsis with 18% mortality. Serum sodium and glucose concentrations were significantly higher (P-value ≤0.05) at all-time points in deceased patients compared to those who were discharged from the SICU. The results of the study indicate that serum sodium and glucose concentrations could be used as independent predictors of mortality in surgical intensive care unit patients with sepsis. However, further clinical trials are warranted before this application could be recommended in surgical intensive care units.