Serum procalcitonin levels are associated with rhabdomyolysis following exertional heatstroke: an over 10-year intensive care survey

BACKGROUND:Heatstroke has become a common emergency event in hospitals.Procalcitonin(PCT)is used as a biomarker of infection in the emergency department(ED),but its role in rhabdomyolysis(RM)following exertional heatstroke(EHS)remains unclear.METHODS:A retrospective cohort study enrolled patients with EHS from the intensive care unit(ICU).We collected RM biomarkers,inflammation markers,critical disease scores at admission,24 h,48 h,and discharge,and 90-day mortality.Correlation analysis,linear regression and curve fi tting were used to identify the relationship between PCT and RM.RESULTS:A total of 162 patients were recruited and divided into RM(n=56)and non-RM(n=106)groups.PCT was positively correlated with myoglobin(Mb),acute hepatic injury,disseminated intravascular coagulation(DIC),Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(SOFA)score,and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II(APACHE II)score,with correlation coefficients of 0.214,0.237,0.285,0.454,and 0.368,respectively(all P<0.05).Interestingly,the results of curve fi tting revealed a nonlinear relationship between PCT and RM,and a two-piecewise linear regression model showed that PCT was related to RM with an odds ratio of 1.3 and a cut-off of<4.6 ng/mL.Survival analysis revealed that RM was associated with higher mortality compared to non-RM cases(P=0.0093).CONCLUSION:High serum PCT concentrations are associated with RM after EHS in critically ill patients.Elevated PCT concentrations should be interpreted cautiously in patients with EHS in the ED.

A nomogram based on lymphocyte percentage for predicting hospital mortality in exertional heatstroke patients: a 13-year retrospective study

BACKGROUND: Exertional heatstroke(EHS) is a life-threatening disease without ideal prognostic markers for predicting hospital mortality.METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective study. Clinical data from EHS patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit(ICU) of the General Hospital of Southern Theatre Command between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2020, were recorded and analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify the factors for mortality. The prediction model was developed with the prognostic markers, and a nomogram was established.RESULTS: The study ultimately enrolled 156 patients, and 15(9.6%) of patients died before discharge. The lymphocyte count(Lym) and percentage(Lym%) were significantly lower in nonsurvivors(P<0.05). The univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that Lym% at the third day of admission(Lym% D3)(OR=0.609, 95%CI: 0.454–0.816) and hematocrit(HCT)(OR=0.908, 95%CI: 0.834–0.988) were independent protective factors for hospital mortality. A nomogram incorporating Lym% D3 with HCT was developed and demonstrated good discrimination and calibration ability. The comparison between the prediction model and scoring systems revealed that the prediction model had the largest area under the curve(AUC)(0.948, 95%CI: 0.900–0.977), with 100.00% sensitivity and 83.69% specificity, and a greater clinical net benefit.CONCLUSION: Severe EHS patients had a higher risk of experiencing prolonged lymphopenia. A nomogram based on Lym% D3 and HCT was developed to facilitate early identification and timely treatment of patients with potentially unfavorable prognoses.

Risk factors for brain injury in patients with exertional heatstroke:A 5-year experience

Purpose:Minimal data exist on brain injury in patients with exertional heatstroke(EHS)in developing country.In this study,we explored the risk factors for brain injury induced by EHS 90-day after onset.Methods:A retrospective cohort study of patients with EHS was conducted in the intensive care unit of the General Hospital of Southern Theater Command of PLA in China from April 2014 to June 2019.Patients were divided into non-brain injury(fully recovered)and brain injury groups(comprising deceased patients or those with neurological sequelae).The brain injury group was further subdivided into a death group and a sequela group for detailed analysis.General information,neurological performance and information on important organ injuries in the acute stage were recorded and analysed.Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for brain injury after EHS and mortality risk factors for brain injury,and Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to evaluate the effect of the neurological dysfunction on survival.Results:Out of the 147 EHS patients,117 were enrolled,of which 96(82.1%)recovered,13(11.1%)died,and 8(6.8%)experienced neurological sequelae.Statistically significant differences were found between non-brain injury and brain injury groups in age,hypotension,duration of consciousness disorders,time to drop core body temperature below 38.5℃,lymphocyte counts,platelet counts,procalcitonin,alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,creatinine,cystatin C,coagulation parameters,international normalized ratio,acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II scores,sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA)scores,and Glasgow coma scale scores(all p<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression showed that age(OR=1.090,95%CI:1.02-1.17,p=0.008),time to drop core temperature(OR=8.223,95%CI:2.30-29.40,p=0.001),and SOFA scores(OR=1.676,95%CI:1.29-2.18,p<0.001)are independent risk factors for brain injury induced by EHS.The Kaplan-Meier curves suggest significantly prolonged survival(p<0.001)in patients with early Glasgow coma scale score>8 and duration of consciousness disorders≤24 h.Conclusions:Advanced age,delayed cooling,and higher SOFA scores significantly increase the risk of brain injury post-EHS.These findings underscore the importance of rapid cooling and early assessment of organ failure to improve outcomes in EHS patients.

Characteristics and Outcome of Exertional Heatstroke Patients Complicated by Acute Hepatic Injury:A Cohort Study

Background and Aims:Exertional heatstroke(EHS)is associated with strenuous physical activity in hot environments.The present study aimed to investigate dynamic changes of hepatic function indices in EHS patients and determine risk factors for death.Methods:This single-center retrospective cohort study considered all patients with EHS admitted to the intensive care unit at the General Hospital of Southern Theater Command of PLA from October 2008 to May 2019.Data on general characteristics,organ function parameters,and the 90-day outcome of enrolled patients were collected.Hepatic indices were collected dynamically,and patients with acute hepatic injury(AHI)were identified by plasma total bilirubin(TBIL)≥34.2μmol/L and an international normalized ratio≥1.5,or with any grade of hepatic encephalopathy.Results:In patients who survived,TBIL,alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were increased at 24 h,peaked at 2–3 days,and began to decrease at 5 days.In non-survivors,TBIL continuously increased post-admission.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the prediction of mortality based on sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA)scores was 89.8%,and the optimal cutoff value was 7.5.Myocardial injury and infection were identified as independent risk factors for death in EHS patients with AHI.Conclusions:In EHS patients,hepatic dysfunction usually occurred within 24 h.Patients with AHI had more severe clinical conditions,and significantly increased 90-day mortality rates.SOFA scores over 7.5,complicated with myocardial injury or infection,were found to be risk factors for death in EHS patients with AHI.