Hydrocortisone Dosing Frequency in Intensive Care Unit Patients With Septic Shock: A Comparison of 2 Regimens

In patients with septic shock, intravenous (IV) hydrocortisone is recommended when there is an ongoing vasopressor requirement. Guidelines recommend IV hydrocortisone 200 mg/day administered as a continuous infusion or 50 mg every 6 hours. To prevent waste during a hydrocortisone shortage and reduce cost, our institution implemented a dosing regimen of 100 mg every 12 hours.

The primary objective of this study was to compare the impact of hydrocortisone 100 mg IV every 12 hours vs 50 mg IV every 6 hours on clinical outcomes in patients with septic shock.

This was a retrospective, multicenter study that evaluated patients admitted from April 2022 to September 2023 to a Greater Charlotte Atrium Health facility. Adult patients diagnosed via the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes with sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock receiving ≥15 mcg/min of norepinephrine equivalents requiring ≥ 24 hours of hydrocortisone were included. The primary outcome was time to shock reversal. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality, hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, and hyperglycemia.

Of 446 screened patients, 111 were included. Median Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores and Charlson Comorbidity Index were similar among groups. The median time to shock reversal was 56 [34-81] hours in the every 12 hours group compared to 65 [39-101] hours in the every 6 hours group (P = 0.21). In-hospital mortality was comparable between the every 6 hours group and the every 12 hours group (51.9% vs 45.6%, P = 0.51). There was no difference in hospital or ICU length of stay nor in incidence of hyperglycemic episodes between groups.

There was no difference in the primary outcome of time to shock reversal or any secondary outcome between hydrocortisone groups. This alternative hydrocortisone dosing strategy may warrant further evaluation in large, prospective studies.