Leptin independently predicts development of future sepsis and determines survival in the acute phase

• Objective: To determine if levels of the adipocyte-derived hormones leptin and adiponectin (adipokines) predict sepsis development and if intra-individual changes in circulating levels from baseline to the acute phase affect outcome.Method: A nested case-referent study within the framework of the Northern Sweden Health and Disease Study (NSHDS) and the Northern Sweden Maternity Cohort (NSMC). Patients aged 18 years or more with documented sepsis within 24 hours after admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) were included if they had participated in a health survey and donated blood samples prior to the sepsis event, and if possible also had stored plasma from the acute phase. Two matched referents free of known sepsis were selected for each case. Baseline and acute phase plasma leptin and adiponectin levels were determined. The associations between adipokines and sepsis and its severity and outcome were determined.Results: We identified 57 men and 97 women with a first-time sepsis event 6.5 years (median with IQR 7.7) after participation in the health survey, and 83% of them had also samples from the acute septic phase. Hyperleptinemia associated with a future sepsis event (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.04-3.00, P=0.03), with stronger associations with severe sepsis and septic shock than with sepsis. High leptin levels were also associated with hospital death in the fully adjusted model. Leptin remained associated with sepsis in men (P=0.02), but not in women (P=0.36), after stratification and adjustment for BMI. In the acute phase, leptin increased more in men than in women (P=0.001), and high leptin levels were associated with increased risk for in-hospital death in women (OR 4.18, 95%CI 1.17-15.00, P=0.03), while being protective in men (OR 0.05, 95% CI 0.01-0.48, P=0.01). Adiponectin did not associate with sepsis or outcome.Conclusions: Hyperleptinemia independently predicted the development of sepsis, and an unfavourable outcome in men. Adiponectin was not associated with sepsis development.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Anestesi och intensivvård (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Anesthesiology and Intensive Care (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

sepsis

leptin

adiponectin

case-referent study

sex

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

ovr (ämneskategori)