Cholesterol as a Predictor of Adverse Outcome in Patients with Severe Bacterial Infection
Severe bacterial infections: severe pneumonia, infective endocarditis, sepsis are among the most common reasons for hospitalization of patients. Evaluation of the prognosis and outcomes of severe bacterial infections is the key to improving patient survival. The purpose of this study was to study the lipid profile and identify predictors of adverse outcome in patients with severe bacterial infection. The study included 45 patients with a severe bacterial infections (community-acquired pneumonia, sepsis with different localization of the primary focus, septic complications of diabetes mellitus etc). The control group included patients (n=21) without signs of a bacterial inflammatory process. The lipid profile and general laboratory data were studied in patients. The obtained data were statistically processed. It was revealed that patients with severe bacterial infections develop metabolic disorders manifested by hypocholesterolemia and hypolipoproteinemia. Total cholesterol (TC) level and high-density lipoproteins (HDL-C) level have high diagnostic value. Possible metabolic predictors of an adverse outcome in patients with a severe bacterial infection were identified: a decrease in the TC level of less than 2.0 mmol/l, combined with a decrease in the level of HDL-C less than 0.5 mmol/l. The results can be used in practice for early diagnosis of adverse outcome and, accordingly, the appointment of timely and adequate intensive care.