Characterizing Cardiac Function in ICU Survivors of Sepsis: A Pilot Study Protocol

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Intensive Care Medicine
• Immunology

Background:

• Sepsis is a common ICU admission reason and leading cause of death.
• Survivors often face long-term physical, psychological, and cognitive impairments (post-intensive care syndrome - PICS).
• Sepsis is linked to cardiovascular risks, suggesting potential for unidentified heart disease in survivors impacting functional recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of myocardial dysfunction in ICU sepsis survivors.
• To explore the association between myocardial dysfunction and physical impairments in PICS.
• To provide data for larger studies on sepsis, cardiovascular events, and functional deficits.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, multicenter pilot study (CONDUCT-ICU) in West Scotland.
• Recruitment of sepsis survivors at ICU discharge, with follow-up 6-10 weeks post-hospital discharge.
• Measurement of cardiac biomarkers (troponin, NT-proBNP), inflammatory markers (CRP, ILs, TNF-α), and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.

Main Results:

• Data on cardiac function, myocardial injury, and systemic inflammation in sepsis survivors will be collected.
• Associations between cardiac function indexes, biomarkers, and patient-reported outcomes will be explored.
• Feasibility and operational data for future research will be generated.

Conclusions:

• The study will characterize cardiac dysfunction prevalence and its link to functional impairment in sepsis survivors.
• Findings will inform future research into the mechanisms of PICS and the cardiovascular impact of sepsis.
• This research is crucial for understanding and mitigating long-term health consequences for sepsis survivors.