Precision prognosis in sepsis: Role of serum lactate-to-albumin ratio as a biochemical marker

Aim: To evaluate the prognostic utility of the Lactate/Albumin (L/A) ratio in predicting mortality among sepsis patients and to assess its applicability in an Indian tertiary care setting. Methods: This prospective observational research was performed in the ICU of Krishna Hospital, Karad, spanning 18 months (March 2023-September 2024), enrolling 100 adult patients with sepsis according to Sepsis-3 criteria. Inclusion necessitated ICU admission within 24 hours of sepsis start, along with serum lactate and albumin levels assessed within 6 hours. Individuals with chronic liver or renal illness, cancer, pregnancy, trauma, surgery-related sepsis, or a history of albumin treatment were excluded. The L/A ratio was evaluated at admission, and patients were monitored until release or demise. Results: The findings indicated that among 100 sepsis patients, the majority were over 40 years of age, with widespread comorbidities including hypertension (34%) and diabetes (28%). Respiratory infections constituted the primary source at 33%. Laboratory results revealed anemia, borderline thrombocytopenia, and increased creatinine levels. Patients with SOFA scores of 10 or above demonstrated a significant death rate of 84.6%. A significant association was identified between the SOFA score and the lactate-to-albumin (L/A) ratio (r = 0.76, p