Adrenal Insufficiency in Septic Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Unit: Prevalence and Associated Factors

Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is associated with an increase in the risk of mortality in ICU-admitted septic patients. It should be suspected not only in patients with septic shock but also in those with sepsis. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of AI in the spectrum of septic patients and determine the main predictors of this condition.

This study included 99 patients with the diagnosis of sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock. Patients with basal cortisol < 10 μg/dl or those with ∆ cortisol < 9 μg/dl after the cosyntropin test were considered as having AI. Appropriate statistical tests were used for comparing the variables between the two groups. A logistic regression model was applied to determine the predictors of AI. The P-value <0.05 was considered as a significant level.

AI was found in 25 (25.3%) of these patients. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of AI in patients with sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock. Patients with positive blood culture (OR (95% CI); 7.8 (3.5-9.1); p=0.021) or those with CRP≥ 3+ (OR (95% CI);  14.1 8 (5.7-16.2); p<0.001) were more likely to develop AI.

AI is prevalent among ICU admitted septic patients even in the absence of septic shock. The main predictors of AI are high levels of CRP and positive blood culture.