Association of Lymphopenia with Outcome of Sepsis Patients

Abstract

Sepsis, a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated response to infection, remains a global health issue, affecting 49 million people annually. Despite advances in treatment, sepsis-induced immunosuppression often leads to secondary infections in intensive care unit patients, increasing hospital stays and mortality rates. This immunosuppression is marked by reduced lymphocyte levels, particularly CD4+ T, CD8+ T, CD19+ B, and natural killer (NK) cells, which are key components of the immune system. Prolonged lymphopenia, or low lymphocyte count, has been identified as a potential marker of ongoing immunosuppression in sepsis patients. To investigate this, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 sepsis patients at Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences over a year. The study analyzed correlations between lymphopenia and factors such as patient age, ICU admission, prevalence of septic shock, mortality rates, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores. The data was processed using descriptive statistics, and further analysis was performed using SPSS software. The mean age of participants was 58.54 years, with 84% requiring ICU admission, 56% developing septic shock, and 48% mortality. Lymphocyte counts at admission and after 48 hours were lower in patients who required ICU admission, had septic shock, or died, with these associations proving statistically significant (P<0.005). SOFA scores, which measure organ dysfunction, were also higher in these patients and were inversely correlated with lymphocyte counts. A significant negative correlation (P<0.005) was observed between SOFA scores and lymphocyte counts at both admission and 48 hours, indicating that as lymphocyte counts decreased, SOFA scores increased. The study concludes that lymphocyte counts, easily measured in routine care, may serve as valuable indicators for identifying sepsis patients at higher risk of septic shock, mortality, and ICU admission.