Background

Sepsis is an important cause of mortality and morbidity among critically ill patients with underlying malignancy.

Methods

Patients with sepsis admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital from January 1, 2010 to April 30, 2019 were recruited. Demographics, laboratory parameter, and outcome were analyzed. Those with underlying malignancy were matched with those without malignancy based on their severity of organ failure (defined by the sequential organ failure assessment [SOFA] score) and septic source.

Results

Two hundred sixty-three patients with underlying active malignancy were matched with 259 patients without malignancy. Those with malignancy had higher APACHE IV score (89 vs. 83), lower albumin (22.1 vs. 24.4), neutrophil count (6.0 vs. 9.3), hemoglobin (8.0 vs. 9.8), platelet count (113 vs. 133), less use of mechanical ventilation (35.7% vs. 45.9%), renal replacement therapy (22.1% vs. 28.2%) and vasopressor (66.2% vs. 74.9%), higher 30-day (34.2% vs. 24.3%) ICU (22.4% vs. 18.9%), and 1-year (62.4% vs. 36.7%) mortality compared with those without malignancy. A higher APACHE IV score and pulmonary sepsis were predictors of 30-day mortality by Cox regression analysis.

Conclusion

Disease severity and pulmonary sepsis, but not underlying malignancy, predicted short-term mortality among critically ill septic patients.