Cardiogenic shock and infection: A lethal combination

Arch Cardiovasc Dis. 2024 Aug-Sep;117(8-9):470-479. doi: 10.1016/j.acvd.2024.04.005. Epub 2024 Jul 4.

Abstract

Background: Cardiogenic shock and sepsis are severe haemodynamic states that are frequently present concomitantly, leading to substantial mortality. Despite its frequency and clinical significance, there is a striking lack of literature on the outcomes of combined sepsis and cardiogenic shock.

Methods: FRENSHOCK was a prospective registry including 772 patients with cardiogenic shock from 49 centres. The primary endpoint was 1-month all-cause mortality. Secondary endpoints included heart transplantation, ventricular assistance device and all-cause death rate at 1year.

Results: Among the 772 patients with cardiogenic shock included, 92 cases were triggered by sepsis (11.9%), displaying more frequent renal and hepatic acute injuries, with lower mean arterial pressure. Patients in the sepsis group required broader use of dobutamine (90.1% vs. 81.2%; P=0.16), norepinephrine (72.5% vs. 50.8%; P<0.01), renal replacement therapy (29.7% vs. 14%; P<0.01), non-invasive ventilation (36.3% vs. 24.4%; P=0.09) and invasive ventilation (52.7% vs. 35.9%; P=0.02). Sepsis-triggered cardiogenic shock resulted in higher 1-month (41.3% vs. 24.0%; adjusted hazard ratio: 1.94, 95% confidence interval: 1.36-2.76; P<0.01) and 1-year (62.0% vs. 42.9%; adjusted hazard ratio 1.75, 95% confidence interval 1.32-2.33; P<0.01) all-cause death rates. No significant difference was found at 1year for heart transplantation or ventricular assistance device (8.7% vs. 10.3%; adjusted odds ratio 0.72, 95% confidence interval 0.32-1.64; P=0.43). In patients with sepsis-triggered cardiogenic shock, neither the presence of a preexisting cardiomyopathy nor the co-occurrence of other cardiogenic shock triggers had any additional impact on death.

Conclusions: The association between sepsis and cardiogenic shock represents a common high-risk scenario, leading to higher short- and long-term death rates, regardless of the association with other cardiogenic shock triggers or the presence of preexisting cardiomyopathy.

Keywords: Cardiogenic shock; Epidemiology; Mortality; Prognosis; Sepsis.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cause of Death
  • Female
  • Heart Transplantation / mortality
  • Heart-Assist Devices
  • Hemodynamics
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Registries
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Sepsis* / complications
  • Sepsis* / diagnosis
  • Sepsis* / mortality
  • Sepsis* / therapy
  • Shock, Cardiogenic* / diagnosis
  • Shock, Cardiogenic* / etiology
  • Shock, Cardiogenic* / mortality
  • Shock, Cardiogenic* / physiopathology
  • Shock, Cardiogenic* / therapy
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome