Six-month and 12-month patient outcomes based on inflammatory subphenotypes in sepsis-associated ARDS: secondary analysis of SAILS-ALTOS trial

Background: Prior acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) trials have identified hypoinflammatory and hyperinflammatory subphenotypes, with distinct differences in short-term outcomes. It is unknown if such differences extend beyond 90 days or are associated with physical, mental health or cognitive outcomes.

Methods: 568 patients in the multicentre Statins for Acutely Injured Lungs from Sepsis trial of rosuvastatin versus placebo were included and assigned a subphenotype. Among 6-month and 12-month survivors (N=232 and 219, respectively, representing 243 unique survivors), subphenotype status was evaluated for association with a range of patient-reported outcomes (eg, mental health symptoms, quality of life). Patient subsets also were evaluated with performance-based tests of physical function (eg, 6 min walk test) and cognition.

Findings: The hyperinflammatory versus hypoinflammatory subphenotype had lower overall 12-month cumulative survival (58% vs 72%, p<0.01); however, there was no significant difference in survival beyond 90 days (86% vs 89%, p=0.70). Most survivors had impairment across the range of outcomes, with little difference between subphenotypes at 6-month and 12-month assessments. For instance, at 6 months, in comparing the hypoinflammatory versus hyperinflammatory subphenotypes, respectively, the median (IQR) patient-reported SF-36 mental health domain score was 47 (33-56) vs 44 (35-56) (p=0.99), and the per cent predicted 6 min walk distance was 66% (48%, 80%) vs 66% (49%, 79%) (p=0.76).

Interpretation: Comparing the hyperinflammatory versus hypoinflammatory ARDS subphenotype, there was no significant difference in survival beyond 90 days and no consistent findings of important differences in 6-month or 12-month physical, cognitive and mental health outcomes. These findings, when considered with prior results, suggest that inflammatory subphenotypes largely reflect the acute phase of illness and its short-term impact.