Table 2.
Clinical and Laboratory Data of Patients Having Sepsis With Versus Without Rheumatoid Arthritis.a
| Characteristics | RA | Non-RA | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean age, years | 67.2 ± 9.04 | 67.4 ± 9.54 | .9538 |
| Female, n (%) | 31 (63.3) | 33 (64.7) | >.9999 |
| Median lactate, mmol/L | 3.0 (1.9-4.475) | 2.5 (1.4-3.3) | .035 |
| Median WBC, cells/μL | 14.5 (7.1-23.45) | 14.1 (10.10-21.4) | .955 |
| Median PLT, cells/μL | 158 (66.5-301) | 165 (86-240) | .969 |
| Median IL-6, pg/mL | 1000 (297.8-5738) | 426.5 (93.61-1704) | .051 |
| Median PCT, ng/mL | 2.18 (0.89-25.42) | 8.715 (2.28-34.56) | .014 |
| Mean CRP, mg/L | 208.7 ± 128.2 | 219.7 ± 136.4 | .689 |
| Mean APACHE IIb | 21.44 ± 7.119 | 21.18 ± 7.469 | .859 |
| Mean SOFAb | 7.25 ± 3.558 | 6.745 ± 4.132 | .517 |
| Mean SAPS IIb | 44.83 ± 15.66 | 43.29 ± 16.0 | .630 |
| Glucocorticoids, n (%) | |||
| All users | 32 (65.3) | 3 (5.9) | <.0001 |
| Low-dosec users | 18 (36.7) | 3 (5.9) | .270 |
| Median dosed | 5 (5.0-11.25) | 5 (5.0-5.0) | .283 |
| Infection sites, n (%) | |||
| Lung | 17 (34.7) | 23 (45.1) | .314 |
| Urinary tract | 8 (16.3) | 12 (23.5) | .456 |
| Peritoneum | 2 (4.1) | 1 (2.0) | .613 |
| Skin | 5 (10.2) | 2 (3.9) | .264 |
| GI tract | 3 (6.1) | 4 (7.8) | >.999 |
| Bone/joint | 6 (12.2) | 2 (3.9) | .156 |
| Cardiac | 2 (4.1) | 2 (3.9) | >.999 |
| Other | 2 (4.1) | 4 (7.8) | .678 |
| Unknown | 4 (8.2) | 1 (2.0) | .200 |
| Frequent pathogens, n (%) | |||
| MSSA | 8 (16.3) | 5 (9.8) | .384 |
| MRSA | 2 (4.1) | 2 (3.9) | >.999 |
| Escherichia coli | 4 (8.2) | 11 (21.6) | .092 |
| Enterococcus faecalis | 1 (2.0) | 6 (11.8) | .112 |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 1 (2.0) | 2 (3.9) | >.999 |
| Aspergillus fumigatus | 2 (4.08) | 0 (0) | .238 |
| Streptococcus pneumoniae | 0 (0) | 3 (5.9) | .343 |
| Frequent comorbidities, n (%) | |||
| Atrial fibrillation | 16 (32.7) | 13 (25.5) | .511 |
| COPD | 7 (14.3) | 8 (15.7) | >.999 |
| Coronary heart disease | 12 (24.5) | 6 (11.8) | .122 |
| HFpEF | 14 (28.6) | 24 (47.1) | .066 |
| HFrEF | 10 (20.4) | 1 (2.0) | .0035 |
| Arterial hypertension | 24 (49.0) | 35 (68.6) | .067 |
| Type 2 diabetes | 8 (16.3) | 10 (19.6) | .796 |
| ICU treatment, n (%) | |||
| Acute renal failuree | 26 (53.1) | 32 (62.8) | .418 |
| Mechanic ventilation | 34 (69.4) | 32 (62.8) | .531 |
| Median admission days | 6.0 (2.0-10.0) | 4.0 (2.0-8.0) | .260 |
| Positive culture | 35 (71.4) | 35 (68.6) | .829 |
| RRT | 12 (24.5) | 18 (35.3) | .279 |
| Septic shock (SEPSIS-3) | 32 (65.3) | 15 (29.4) | .0006 |
| Vasopressor use | 38 (77.6) | 26 (51.0) | .007 |
Abbreviations: APACHE II, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CRP, C-reactive protein; GI tract, gastrointestinal tract; HFpEF, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction; HFrEF, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction; ICU, intensive care unit; IL-6, interleukin-6; MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; MSSA, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus; PCT, procalcitonin; PLT, platelets; RRT, renal replacement therapy; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; SAPS II, Simplified Acute Physiology Score II; SEPSIS-3, septic shock according to the Third International Consensus Definition for Sepsis and Septic Shock28; SOFA, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment; WBC, white blood cells.
a Given are numbers and % in brackets, mean ± standard deviation or median and interquartile range in brackets, respectively.
b Calculated after ICU admission.
c The dose was considered being low when not exceeding 7.5 mg prednisolone equivalent.26
d In mg prednisolone equivalent.
e At least acute kidney injury (AKI) stage 1, following the definition of the Guidelines for AKI of the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO).27