Shock Index as a Predictor of Hyperlactatemia for Early Detection of Septic Shock in Patients Presenting to Emergency Department

Authors

  • Natthapat Attharom Department of Emergency Medicine, Thungsong Hospital

Keywords:

sepsis, septic shock, shock index, lactate

Abstract

Background: Sepsis is a critical medical emergency with high mortality rates of 62-73.9%, especially in severe sepsis and septic shock patients. Serum lactate testing aids in diagnosis and treatment, though it may not be readily available in community hospitals. As a result, shock index (SI) has been used to predict hyperlactatemia.

 Objective: To investigate the sensitivity and specificity of shock index (SI) values in predicting hyperlactatemia in sepsis patients.

 Materials and Methods: This retrospective descriptive study analyzed sepsis patients who visited the emergency department at Thungsong Hospital from February 1, 2024, to July 31, 2024. Vital signs were recorded and converted into shock index to study its relationship with lactate levels, vasopressor use, ICU admission, and 28-day mortality.

Results: Among 200 patients, the optimal SI cut-off for predicting lactate ≥ 4 was ≥ 1 (sensitivity 82.86%, specificity 68.46%). Furthermore, SI ≥ 1 was associated with vasopressor use, ICU admission, and 28-day mortality.

 Conclusions: Shock index is an effective predictor of hyperlactatemia for early detection of septic shock. An SI ≥ 1 is optimal for predicting lactate levels ≥ 4 and is associated with vasopressor use, ICU admission, and 28-day mortality.

References

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Published

2025-07-01

How to Cite

1.
Attharom N. Shock Index as a Predictor of Hyperlactatemia for Early Detection of Septic Shock in Patients Presenting to Emergency Department. MNST Med J [internet]. 2025 Jul. 1 [cited 2025 Dec. 9];9(1):40-52. available from: https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/MNSTMedJ/article/view/280673