Unfractionated heparin may improve near-term survival in patients admitted to the ICU with sepsis attributed to pneumonia: an observational study using the MIMIC-IV database

IntroductionLimited data are available on the use, duration, and dosage of anticoagulant therapy in patients with pneumonia-induced sepsis, and the survival benefits of heparin remain uncertain. This study aimed to assess whether heparin administration improves near-term survival in critically ill p...

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Main Authors: Shusheng Fang, Yali Wang, Wenyu Nan, Yanhao Feng, Wen Su, Yiming Wang, Xiaodong Jiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1518716/full
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author Shusheng Fang
Yali Wang
Wenyu Nan
Yanhao Feng
Wen Su
Yiming Wang
Xiaodong Jiang
author_facet Shusheng Fang
Yali Wang
Wenyu Nan
Yanhao Feng
Wen Su
Yiming Wang
Xiaodong Jiang
author_sort Shusheng Fang
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionLimited data are available on the use, duration, and dosage of anticoagulant therapy in patients with pneumonia-induced sepsis, and the survival benefits of heparin remain uncertain. This study aimed to assess whether heparin administration improves near-term survival in critically ill patients with pneumonia-induced sepsis and identify the optimal dosage and treatment duration.MethodsThis study utilized the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) database. The variance inflation factor was employed to exclude highly collinear variables. Propensity score matching (PSM), the Cox proportional hazards model, and Cox regression subgroup analysis were used to evaluate the outcomes of subcutaneous heparin prophylactic anticoagulation after intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The primary outcomes were 30-, 45-, and 60-d mortality rates. Secondary outcomes included ICU length of stay (LOS_ICU), hospital length of stay (LOS_Hospital), in-hospital mortality, and the incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding.ResultsWe enrolled 1,586 adult patients with pneumonia-induced sepsis. After PSM, 1,176 patients remained (588 in the heparin group and 588 in the non-heparin group). The 45-d survival rate was significantly higher in the heparin-treated group than that in the non-heparin group (84.4% vs. 79.4%; HR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.572–0.83; adjusted HR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.563–0.964; P < 0.05). LOS_ICU and LOS_Hospital were significantly shorter in the heparin group (P < 0.001), with no significant difference in gastrointestinal bleeding incidence between the two groups. Cox proportional hazards models demonstrated that heparin dose and duration were strongly associated with 45-d survival. Subgroup analysis indicated a significant survival advantage in patients aged 18–60 years, without diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or stage 1 acute kidney injury, who received a daily heparin dose of 3 mL for more than 7 d.ConclusionOur study found that early administration of heparin, particularly in sufficient doses (Heparin Sodium 5,000 units/mL, 1 mL per dose, three times daily (TID)) for more than 7 d, was associated with reduced near-term mortality in critically ill patients with pneumonia-induced sepsis. These findings underscore the potential benefits of anticoagulant therapy in this high-risk patient population.
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spelling doaj-art-e107404700d34951bd51b6cacadf3c532025-08-20T03:12:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-02-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15187161518716Unfractionated heparin may improve near-term survival in patients admitted to the ICU with sepsis attributed to pneumonia: an observational study using the MIMIC-IV databaseShusheng FangYali WangWenyu NanYanhao FengWen SuYiming WangXiaodong JiangIntroductionLimited data are available on the use, duration, and dosage of anticoagulant therapy in patients with pneumonia-induced sepsis, and the survival benefits of heparin remain uncertain. This study aimed to assess whether heparin administration improves near-term survival in critically ill patients with pneumonia-induced sepsis and identify the optimal dosage and treatment duration.MethodsThis study utilized the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) database. The variance inflation factor was employed to exclude highly collinear variables. Propensity score matching (PSM), the Cox proportional hazards model, and Cox regression subgroup analysis were used to evaluate the outcomes of subcutaneous heparin prophylactic anticoagulation after intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The primary outcomes were 30-, 45-, and 60-d mortality rates. Secondary outcomes included ICU length of stay (LOS_ICU), hospital length of stay (LOS_Hospital), in-hospital mortality, and the incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding.ResultsWe enrolled 1,586 adult patients with pneumonia-induced sepsis. After PSM, 1,176 patients remained (588 in the heparin group and 588 in the non-heparin group). The 45-d survival rate was significantly higher in the heparin-treated group than that in the non-heparin group (84.4% vs. 79.4%; HR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.572–0.83; adjusted HR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.563–0.964; P < 0.05). LOS_ICU and LOS_Hospital were significantly shorter in the heparin group (P < 0.001), with no significant difference in gastrointestinal bleeding incidence between the two groups. Cox proportional hazards models demonstrated that heparin dose and duration were strongly associated with 45-d survival. Subgroup analysis indicated a significant survival advantage in patients aged 18–60 years, without diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or stage 1 acute kidney injury, who received a daily heparin dose of 3 mL for more than 7 d.ConclusionOur study found that early administration of heparin, particularly in sufficient doses (Heparin Sodium 5,000 units/mL, 1 mL per dose, three times daily (TID)) for more than 7 d, was associated with reduced near-term mortality in critically ill patients with pneumonia-induced sepsis. These findings underscore the potential benefits of anticoagulant therapy in this high-risk patient population.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1518716/fullunfractionated heparinpneumoniasepsisshort-term survivalMIMIC-IV database
spellingShingle Shusheng Fang
Yali Wang
Wenyu Nan
Yanhao Feng
Wen Su
Yiming Wang
Xiaodong Jiang
Unfractionated heparin may improve near-term survival in patients admitted to the ICU with sepsis attributed to pneumonia: an observational study using the MIMIC-IV database
Frontiers in Pharmacology
unfractionated heparin
pneumonia
sepsis
short-term survival
MIMIC-IV database
title Unfractionated heparin may improve near-term survival in patients admitted to the ICU with sepsis attributed to pneumonia: an observational study using the MIMIC-IV database
title_full Unfractionated heparin may improve near-term survival in patients admitted to the ICU with sepsis attributed to pneumonia: an observational study using the MIMIC-IV database
title_fullStr Unfractionated heparin may improve near-term survival in patients admitted to the ICU with sepsis attributed to pneumonia: an observational study using the MIMIC-IV database
title_full_unstemmed Unfractionated heparin may improve near-term survival in patients admitted to the ICU with sepsis attributed to pneumonia: an observational study using the MIMIC-IV database
title_short Unfractionated heparin may improve near-term survival in patients admitted to the ICU with sepsis attributed to pneumonia: an observational study using the MIMIC-IV database
title_sort unfractionated heparin may improve near term survival in patients admitted to the icu with sepsis attributed to pneumonia an observational study using the mimic iv database
topic unfractionated heparin
pneumonia
sepsis
short-term survival
MIMIC-IV database
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1518716/full
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