Table 4 Baseline variables, investigations and management by lactate level
| Overall N = 387 (n) | Serum lactate (mmol/L) | P value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| < 3.8, N = 307 n (%) | ≥ 3.8, N = 80 n (%) | |||
| Initial characteristics | ||||
| Hypotension (SBP < 90 mmHg) | 29 | 13 (4.2) | 16 (20.0) | < 0.001 |
| Tachycardia (HR > 100 beat/min) | 193 | 142 (46.3) | 51 (63.7) | 0.005 |
| Bradycardia (HR < 60 beat/min) | 10 | 7 (2.3) | 3 (3.8) | 0.438 |
| Tachypnoea (RR > 20 breath/min) | 316 | 242 (78.8) | 74 (92.5) | 0.005 |
| Hypoxia (ΦSPO2 < 90%) | 56 | 35 (11.4) | 21 (26.3) | 0.001 |
| Febrile (ϖTemp > 37.9 °C) | 32 | 24 (7.8) | 8 (10.0) | 0.528 |
| Altered mental status (GCS < 15) | 91 | 69 (22.5) | 22 (27.5) | 0.345 |
| Age (years) | ||||
| < 50 | 165 | 120 (39.1) | 45 (56.3) | 0.006 |
| > 50 | 222 | 187 (60.9) | 35 (43.8) | |
| Laboratory tests | ||||
| High (serum Cr-153 μmol/L) | 153 | 117 (38.1) | 36 (45.0) | 0.262 |
| High serum Urea(> 9.7 mmol/L) | 174 | 127 (41.4) | 47 (58.8) | 0.005 |
| Hyperkalemia (K+ > 5.5 mmol/L) | 338 | 274 (89.3) | 64 (80.0) | 0.027 |
| Hypokalemia (K+ < 3.5 mmol/L) | 112 | 97 (31.6) | 15 (18.8) | 0.024 |
| Hyponatremia (Na+< 136 mmol/L) | 209 | 162 (52.8) | 47 (58.8) | 0.339 |
| WBCa | 77 | 71 (23.1) | 6 (7.5) | 0.002 |
| Malaria test positive | 24 | 17 (10.1) | 7 (15.9) | 0.290 |
| Hemoglobin (< 7 g/dL) | 41 | 34 (11.1) | 7 (8.8) | 0.547 |
| Low RBG (< 3 mmol/L) | 9 | 5 (1.6) | 4 (5.0) | 0.092 |
| HIV rapid test positive | 13 | 10 (23.6) | 3 (27.3) | 0.709 |
| Acidemia (serum-PH < 7.35) | 100 | 90 (29.3) | 10 (12.5) | 0.002 |
| EMD management | ||||
| Oxygen therapy | 104 | 87 (28.3) | 17 (21.3) | 0.203 |
| Intravenous fluids | 328 | 257 (83.7) | 71 (88.8) | 0.264 |
| Blood transfusion | 21 | 15 (4.9) | 6 (7.5) | 0.358 |
| Antibiotics | 166 | 130 (42.3) | 36 (45.0) | 0.669 |
| Inotropes/vasopressor | 10 | 2 (0.7) | 8 (10.0) | < 0.001 |
| Intubations | 22 | 13 (4.2) | 9 (11.3) | 0.016 |
| Cardiopulmonary resuscitation | 9 | 2 (0.7) | 7 (8.8) | < 0.001 |