Prognostic assessment plays a crucial role in guiding therapeutic decision-making for patients with sepsis, particularly in intensive care settings. This study aimed to develop a multivariable model to predict 28-day mortality among intensive care unit (ICU) patients with sepsis by integrating serum lactate levels, the National Early Warning Score (NEWS), and the Predisposition, Infection, Response, and Organ Dysfunction (PIRO) score. Demographic information, clinical characteristics, and laboratory findings routinely collected at ICU admission were used to calculate the NEWS and PIRO scores for each patient. Patients were categorized as survivors or non-survivors based on their outcome. Both logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were applied for mortality prediction analysis. The final analysis included 205 patients diagnosed with sepsis (mean age: 73.6 ± 13.2 years; 53.2% male), of whom 109 died during hospitalization. Logistic regression analysis revealed that lactate, NEWS, and PIRO scores were independently associated with 28-day mortality. Combining lactate levels with NEWS and PIRO significantly enhanced mortality prediction, with the greatest accuracy observed when all three parameters were integrated. Pairwise analyses demonstrated that adding lactate to the base model significantly improved predictive accuracy (DBA: −0.103, p = 0.003), and incorporating lactate into a model already including NEWS further enhanced its predictive value (DBA: −0.042, p = 0.037). In conclusion, serum lactate measured at initial ICU admission provides valuable prognostic information for predicting 28-day mortality in sepsis patients. Furthermore, combining lactate levels with NEWS and PIRO scores substantially enhances the accuracy of mortality prediction in these patients.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of ICU admissions, with significant morbidity and mortality. Traditional risk stratification tools, such as CURB-65, the pneumonia severity index (PSI), and computed tomography severity scores (CT-SS) are widely used for prognosis but could be improved by incorporating novel biomarkers. This retrospective study evaluated the fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) as an additional predictor of 30-day mortality in ICU patients with CAP. A total of 158 CAP patients admitted to a tertiary care ICU were included. Baseline data encompassed demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological parameters, including FAR, CURB-65, PSI, and CT-SS. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analyses were conducted to assess mortality predictors. The 30-day mortality rate was 70.88% (112/158). Higher FAR, PSI, CURB-65, CT-SS, and lactate levels were independently associated with increased mortality (P < 0.05). FAR demonstrated strong discriminatory power (area under the receiver operating characteristic [AUROC]: 0.704) and significantly improved the predictive accuracy of established models. Adding FAR to PSI increased the AUROC from 0.705 to 0.791 (P = 0.009), while combining FAR, CT-SS, and PSI yielded the highest predictive accuracy (AUROC: 0.844, P = 0.032). These findings suggest that FAR, which reflects both inflammation and nutritional status, complements traditional risk assessment tools by providing a dynamic perspective. Integrating FAR into existing models enhances the identification of high-risk patients, enabling timely interventions and more efficient resource allocation in the ICU.

Introduction: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) prevalence data in Türkiye is limited. We aimed to determine the nationwide prevalence of MASLD and advanced hepatic fibrosis risk in subjects with cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRF). Despite recent international consensus redefining fatty liver disease terminology, no nationwide MASLD study has been reported in Türkiye. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 14,371 adults with ≥1 CMRF from 44 centers across 31 cities. MASLD was diagnosed using liver ultrasonography plus cardiometabolic criteria. Advanced fibrosis risk was assessed by fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score (≥1.3 for ≤65 years; ≥2.0 for >65 years). Logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of high FIB-4. Results: A total of 61.4% of participants were women, the mean age was 51.3 ± 14.4 years, and the mean BMI was 31.4 ± 6.0 kg/m². MASLD prevalence was 75.7% (n = 10,873), rising with the number of CMRFs (56.5% with one factor vs. 83.4% with all). The prevalence of high FIB-4 scores was 12.0% overall, being lower in MASLD patients than non-MASLD patients (11.2% vs. 14.4%, p < 0.001). FIB-4 scores decreased with increasing BMI (28.1% underweight vs. 8.7% class III obesity). Male sex, T2DM, and hypertension independently predicted high FIB-4 scores, while smoking, higher BMI, and MASLD were inversely associated. Conclusions: Three-quarters of Turkish adults with CMRF have MASLD. Standard FIB-4 thresholds may underestimate fibrosis risk in obese and smoking populations, underscoring the need for adjusted cut-offs or alternative tools. This study is the first to provide nationwide MASLD prevalence data in Türkiye.

Chitotriosidase and YKL-40, also called chitinase 3-like protein 1, are homologs of family 18 glycosyl hydrolases, secreted by human macrophages and granulocytes under inflammatory conditions. Although increased levels of chitotriosidase and YKL-40 are linked with several inflammatory diseases, the physiological utility of these two enzymes is still not fully characterized. This study aims to analyse the serum YKL-40 and chitotriosidase levels of acute pancreatitis patients to assess whether their activity correlates with acute pancreatitis and its severity. Chitotriosidase and YKL-40 levels, along with routine laboratory parameters, were determined from the serum samples of 41 acute pancreatitis patients, at both onset and remission (male/female: 22/19), and 39 healthy subjects (male/female: 19/20). The Modified Glasgow Prognostic Score was used to predict the severity of the disease, and a correlation analysis was performed between study variables. A statistically significant increase in both chitotriosidase and YKL-40 levels was observed in acute pancreatitis patients compared to healthy controls (P < 0.001). Higher levels of YKL-40, chitotriosidase and C-reactive protein were found in patients with acute pancreatitis at onset than in remission. The correlation analysis showed a statistically significant association between YKL-40 and chitotriosidase (p = 0.039, r = 0.323). The cut-off point for YKL-40, for detecting acute pancreatitis, was 60.3 with a sensitivity and specificity of 84.9% and 84.6% (AUC: 0.890). The optimum cut-off points for chitotriosidase, for detecting acute pancreatitis, was 33.5 with a sensitivity and specificity of 79.5% and 78.4% (AUC: 0.899). Elevated YKL-40 and chitotriosidase levels in acute pancreatitis patients demonstrate the importance of possible macrophage involvement in the pancreatic microenvironment during acute pancreatitis progression.

Evaluating disease severity and predicting adverse outcomes using various risk prediction tools in early disease stages is essential to reduce sepsis-related mortality. Unfortunately, there is still no clear consensus on the best score. The present study aimed to develop and validate a multivariable risk prediction model for 30-days mortality by combining the lactate-to-albumin (L/A) ratio, Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS), and quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) in sepsis patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). This retrospective study included ICU patients with suspected sepsis. We computed L/A ratio, MEWS, and qSOFA within 24 hours of ICU admission. Patients were followed until either death/hospital discharge or 30 days, whichever came first. The predictive performance of each scoring system and their combinations was assessed using logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses. A total of 130 patients with sepsis admitted to the ICU were included in the study. The mortality rate was 63.07% (82/130). A higher L/A ratio, MEWS, and qSOFA were found to be associated with mortality in ICU sepsis patients. A statistically significant difference in terms of predicting mortality was demonstrated in the pairwise comparison after combining the L/A ratio with both the qSOFA and MEWS (difference between areas: −0.098, P = .011 and difference between areas: −0.098, P = .013 respectively). Mortality models combining L/A ratio with selected clinical variables have improved mortality prediction performance compared with models that use MEWS and qSOFA alone. The L/A ratio at ICU admission provide valuable prognostic information for predicting 30-days mortality in sepsis patients. Combining these ratio with MEWS and qSOFA improves the accuracy of predicting mortality in patients with sepsis.

Sepsis secondary to pneumonia is a prominent cause of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and mortality among older adults, yet early bedside risk stratification poses significant challenges. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and the National Early Warning Score (NEWS), both individually and in combination, alongside admission serum lactate levels, for predicting mortality in geriatric ICU patients with pneumonia-related sepsis. In this single-center retrospective cohort study, we analyzed patients aged 65 years and older who were admitted between January 1, 2020, and July 1, 2025. Sepsis was defined according to Sepsis-3 criteria; APACHE II (using the worst values within the first 24 hours) and NEWS (measured at ICU admission) were recorded, along with the first lactate and other biomarkers obtained within the first 24 hours. We assessed mortality predictors using logistic regression and evaluated model discrimination through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Among the 179 patients (median age 80), the ICU mortality rate was 64.8%. Non-survivors exhibited significantly higher APACHE II and NEWS scores, as well as elevated lactate and inflammatory markers (all p<0.001). In multivariable analysis, APACHE II (OR 1.130; p21 with NEWS >8 or lactate >2 mmol/L), with mortality rates approximating 86–87%. In conclusion, APACHE II and NEWS are robust early predictors of mortality in geriatric patients with pneumonia-related sepsis, while lactate may assist in early risk stratification but provides limited prognostic value beyond these scoring systems.