Vol. 9, Issue 7, Part W (2025)

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<0.0001). ROC analysis demonstrated that the L/A ratio exhibited greater predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.70) than lactate, albumin, or the SOFA score individually.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the lactate-to-albumin ratio shows promise as a rapid prognostic tool for sepsis mortality prediction. Future multicenter studies with larger cohorts and serial monitoring are needed to validate its clinical utility. Integration into dynamic risk models may enhance early decision-making in sepsis management.