Long non‐coding RNA THRIL predicts increased acute respiratory distress syndrome risk and positively correlates with disease severity, inflammation, and mortality in sepsis patients

BACKGROUND: This present study aimed to investigate the correlation of long non‐coding RNA THRIL (lnc‐THRIL) with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) risk, disease severity, inflammation, and mortality in sepsis patients. METHODS: A total of 109 sepsis patients admitted to intensive care units were consecutively recruited, and their blood samples were collected. After admission, patients were supervised and screened daily to identify the occurrence of ARDS. Clinical characteristics, routine laboratory testing, and disease severity were recorded, and all enrolled patients were followed up until death in the hospital or discharge for mortality records. Lnc‐THRIL was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and inflammatory cytokine levels were measured by human enzyme‐linked immunoassay. RESULTS: A total of 32 (29.4%) sepsis patients occurred ARDS and 77 (71.6%) did not. Lnc‐THRIL was upregulated in ARDS group compared with non‐ARDS group, and it had good value in distinguishing ARDS from non‐ARDS in sepsis patients (AUC: 0.706; 95%CI: 0.602‐0.809). Besides, lnc‐THRIL, smoke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease independently predicted increased risk of ARDS. As for disease severity, lnc‐THRIL positively correlated with APACHE II score and SOFA score in sepsis patients. Regarding inflammation, lnc‐THRIL was positively associated with CRP, PCT, TNF‐α, and IL‐1β levels in sepsis patients. Additionally, the mortality rate was 30.2%, and lnc‐THRIL was upregulated in non‐survivors compared with survivors, presenting a good value (AUC: 0.780; 95%CI: 0.683‐0.876) in predicting mortality in sepsis patients. CONCLUSION: Lnc‐THRIL predicts increased risk of ARDS and positively correlates with disease severity, inflammation, and mortality in sepsis patients.