Baseline serum bicarbonate levels independently predict short-term mortality in critically ill patients with ischaemic cardiogenic shock:

Background:Cardiogenic shock is a feared complication of acute myocardial infarction with high mortality rates. Data on the predictive role of acid base dysregulation in this clinical setting are sparse. We therefore embarked on investigating the predictive role of serum bicarbonate in critically ill intensive care unit (ICU) patients with cardiogenic shock.Methods:A total of 165 ischaemic cardiogenic shock patients (118 men, aged 68.4 years (interquartile range 59.0–77.4), APACHE II score 26.0 (interquartile range 21.0–29.0), after percutaneous coronary intervention were included in a single-centre analysis. Percutaneous coronary intervention-related data such as left ventricular ejection fraction and laboratory indices were recorded and routine clinical follow-up was obtained at hospital discharge and at one year. All-cause mortality was assessed and data were analysed using univariate and multivariate models.Results:All-cause mortality was highest (17%) during the first 48 hours following ICU admission...