Abstract Rationale Sepsis and septic shock remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality and are among the most common indications for mechanical ventilation. Since organ dysfunction is an essential feature of sepsis, respiratory dysfunction is common. Early identification of patients at risk for respiratory failure is necessary as timely intervention and initiation of respiratory support can prevent complications and improve outcomes. The Respiratory Rate-Oxygenation Index (ROX Index) is the ratio of oxygen saturation to respiratory rate, and Respiratory Rate-Oxygenation-Heart Rate Index (ROX-HR) Index is the ratio of ROX index over heart rate, incorporating the heart rate in addition to the ROX index. Both indices can be measured easily and at bedside. As there is limited evidence regarding their predictive value specifically among patients with sepsis or septic shock, determining its association with the incidence of mechanical ventilation may support its use for early clinical decision making and risk stratification in these high risk populations. Methods This is a Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study Results A total of 339 patients were admitted due to sepsis and septic shock between 2020-2022. Among these, 188 were intubated, and 151 were not. Correlation analysis showed that there is a significant negative correlation with both ROX and ROX-HR indices to the incidence of intubation. Both were able to predict eventual intubation with an accuracy of 77.21% and 71.32% for ROX and ROX-HR indices, respectively, with an odds ratio of 1 for both indices (ROX index=0.692, ROX-HR index=0.816) indicating that an increased ROX or ROX-HR index can lead to lesser chances of intubation. Conclusion The ROX and ROX-HR indices can be used as a predictor of the need for mechanical ventilation among septic patients. This abstract is funded by: None
Tan et al. (Fri,) studied this question.