Prognostic Value of Cortisol Levels in Critically Ill Patients With Sepsis and Septic Shock: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study

This prospective observational study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of cortisol levels and their dynamic changes in critically ill patients with sepsis and septic shock admitted to the intensive care unit. Cortisol plays a crucial role in maintaining hemodynamic stability and modulating the inflammatory response during critical illness, and relative adrenal insufficiency has been associated with worse clinical outcomes.

Adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit with sepsis or septic shock will be enrolled and followed prospectively. Serum cortisol levels will be measured, and their association with clinical outcomes, including intensive care unit mortality, 28-day mortality, and 90-day mortality, will be analyzed. In addition, the relationship between cortisol levels and disease severity scores such as SOFA and APACHE, as well as laboratory parameters including inflammatory biomarkers, will be evaluated.

The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the early identification of high-risk patients and improve prognostic assessment in critically ill patients with sepsis and septic shock.