Is There an Effect of Initial and 24-Hour Blood Gas Lactate and Methemoglobin Levels on Predicting Mortality of Patients in the Intensive Care Unit?

In intensive care units (ICUs), serum lactate and methemoglobin (metHb) levels are considered significant biomarkers for predicting mortality in critically ill patients. This study investigates the relationship between lactate and metHb levels in blood gas analyses at admission and 24 h later, as we...

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Main Authors: Serhat Doğan, Sefer Aslan, Tayfun Börta, Mehmet Sarıaydın, Hakan Sezgin Sayıner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Life
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/3/373
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author Serhat Doğan
Sefer Aslan
Tayfun Börta
Mehmet Sarıaydın
Hakan Sezgin Sayıner
author_facet Serhat Doğan
Sefer Aslan
Tayfun Börta
Mehmet Sarıaydın
Hakan Sezgin Sayıner
author_sort Serhat Doğan
collection DOAJ
description In intensive care units (ICUs), serum lactate and methemoglobin (metHb) levels are considered significant biomarkers for predicting mortality in critically ill patients. This study investigates the relationship between lactate and metHb levels in blood gas analyses at admission and 24 h later, as well as their association with mortality in ICU patients. The study was conducted retrospectively between March and December 2022 at Adıyaman Training and Research Hospital, evaluating 114 patients, with statistical analyses performed on the collected data. The results indicated a statistically significant decrease in lactate levels between admission and 24 h after (<i>p</i> = 0.004). However, no significant change was found in metHb levels (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Lactate clearance was significantly lower in deceased patients compared to survivors (<i>p</i> = 0.037), whereas metHb clearance showed no statistically significant association with mortality. Lactate is highlighted as a key indicator of tissue hypoxia and plays a critical role in managing critically ill patients. Elevated lactate levels are associated with impaired oxygenation and worse prognoses. The literature consistently supports the association between high lactate levels and increased mortality in conditions such as sepsis and hemorrhagic shock. Similarly, this study confirms the prognostic value of lactate, particularly in the early phases of ICU admission. In contrast, metHb levels were not found to significantly impact mortality. Although some studies suggest a potential role of metHb as a biomarker for oxidative stress in inflammatory diseases, this relationship was not supported by the current findings. In conclusion, serum lactate levels serve as a crucial tool for mortality prediction and patient management in ICUs, while metHb levels have limited prognostic value. These findings suggest that greater emphasis should be placed on lactate monitoring in the management of critically ill patients.
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spelling doaj-art-90b7102aeb3c4f5aabb3578cf0bc6ab02025-08-20T02:42:38ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292025-02-0115337310.3390/life15030373Is There an Effect of Initial and 24-Hour Blood Gas Lactate and Methemoglobin Levels on Predicting Mortality of Patients in the Intensive Care Unit?Serhat Doğan0Sefer Aslan1Tayfun Börta2Mehmet Sarıaydın3Hakan Sezgin Sayıner4Private Kayseri Acıbadem Hospital, General Surgery, Kayseri 38140, TurkeyGiresun University Medicine School, Internal Medicine, Giresun 28200, TurkeyAdıyaman Education and Research Hospital, Internal Medicine, Adıyaman 02100, TurkeyMedical Park İstanbul Hospital, Internal Medicine, İstanbul 34899, TurkeyAdıyaman University Medicine School, Infectious Disease, Adıyaman 02200, TurkeyIn intensive care units (ICUs), serum lactate and methemoglobin (metHb) levels are considered significant biomarkers for predicting mortality in critically ill patients. This study investigates the relationship between lactate and metHb levels in blood gas analyses at admission and 24 h later, as well as their association with mortality in ICU patients. The study was conducted retrospectively between March and December 2022 at Adıyaman Training and Research Hospital, evaluating 114 patients, with statistical analyses performed on the collected data. The results indicated a statistically significant decrease in lactate levels between admission and 24 h after (<i>p</i> = 0.004). However, no significant change was found in metHb levels (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Lactate clearance was significantly lower in deceased patients compared to survivors (<i>p</i> = 0.037), whereas metHb clearance showed no statistically significant association with mortality. Lactate is highlighted as a key indicator of tissue hypoxia and plays a critical role in managing critically ill patients. Elevated lactate levels are associated with impaired oxygenation and worse prognoses. The literature consistently supports the association between high lactate levels and increased mortality in conditions such as sepsis and hemorrhagic shock. Similarly, this study confirms the prognostic value of lactate, particularly in the early phases of ICU admission. In contrast, metHb levels were not found to significantly impact mortality. Although some studies suggest a potential role of metHb as a biomarker for oxidative stress in inflammatory diseases, this relationship was not supported by the current findings. In conclusion, serum lactate levels serve as a crucial tool for mortality prediction and patient management in ICUs, while metHb levels have limited prognostic value. These findings suggest that greater emphasis should be placed on lactate monitoring in the management of critically ill patients.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/3/373lactateblood gasmethemoglobinemortalityICU
spellingShingle Serhat Doğan
Sefer Aslan
Tayfun Börta
Mehmet Sarıaydın
Hakan Sezgin Sayıner
Is There an Effect of Initial and 24-Hour Blood Gas Lactate and Methemoglobin Levels on Predicting Mortality of Patients in the Intensive Care Unit?
Life
lactate
blood gas
methemoglobine
mortality
ICU
title Is There an Effect of Initial and 24-Hour Blood Gas Lactate and Methemoglobin Levels on Predicting Mortality of Patients in the Intensive Care Unit?
title_full Is There an Effect of Initial and 24-Hour Blood Gas Lactate and Methemoglobin Levels on Predicting Mortality of Patients in the Intensive Care Unit?
title_fullStr Is There an Effect of Initial and 24-Hour Blood Gas Lactate and Methemoglobin Levels on Predicting Mortality of Patients in the Intensive Care Unit?
title_full_unstemmed Is There an Effect of Initial and 24-Hour Blood Gas Lactate and Methemoglobin Levels on Predicting Mortality of Patients in the Intensive Care Unit?
title_short Is There an Effect of Initial and 24-Hour Blood Gas Lactate and Methemoglobin Levels on Predicting Mortality of Patients in the Intensive Care Unit?
title_sort is there an effect of initial and 24 hour blood gas lactate and methemoglobin levels on predicting mortality of patients in the intensive care unit
topic lactate
blood gas
methemoglobine
mortality
ICU
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/3/373
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AT tayfunborta isthereaneffectofinitialand24hourbloodgaslactateandmethemoglobinlevelsonpredictingmortalityofpatientsintheintensivecareunit
AT mehmetsarıaydın isthereaneffectofinitialand24hourbloodgaslactateandmethemoglobinlevelsonpredictingmortalityofpatientsintheintensivecareunit
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