Association Between Serum Lactate-to-Albumin Ratio and Sepsis Severity in ICU Patients: A Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Chennai (Code-T0218)

Introduction: Sepsis is a life-threatening condition characterized by organ dysfunction due to dysregulated host response to infection. Biomarkers such as lactate and albumin have been widely used to assess sepsis severity and predict outcomes. The serum lactate-to-albumin ratio (LAR) is emerging as a potential prognostic indicator, combining metabolic stress and nutritional status. This study evaluates the association between LAR and sepsis severity in ICU patients.

Aim and Objectives:

Aim:

A Study on association between serum lactate albumin ratio with severity of sepsis patients admitted in ICU in a tertiary care hospital.

Objectives:

• To assess the distribution of patients presenting with sepsis
• To assess the distribution of altered serum lactate albumin ratio among patients presenting with sepsis
• To associate between various demographic factors with severity of sepsis.
• To associate between severity of sepsis and multiorgan dysfunction.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in the ICU of a tertiary care hospital in Chennai. Sepsis patients were categorized based on severity (sepsis, severe sepsis, septic shock) according to Sepsis-3 criteria. Serum lactate and albumin levels were measured on admission, and LAR was calculated. The association between LAR and clinical outcomes, including length of ICU stay and mortality, was analyzed using SPSS, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: Higher LAR values were significantly associated with increased sepsis severity, longer ICU stay, and higher mortality rates (p<0.001). Patients with elevated LAR had poorer prognoses, highlighting its potential role as a severity marker.

Conclusion: LAR serves as a valuable biomarker for assessing sepsis severity and predicting patient outcomes. Routine LAR measurement could aid in early risk stratification and guide therapeutic interventions in ICU settings.

Keywords: Sepsis, lactate-to-albumin ratio, ICU, biomarker, mortality, prognosis.