Negative central venous to arterial lactate gradient in patients receiving vasopressors is associated with higher ICU 30-day mortality: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: Serum lactate has long been used to evaluate hypoxia and predict prognosis in critically ill patients, however, discrepancy in lactate measurements between different sites have not been recognized as a useful tool for monitoring hypoxia and evaluating outcome. METHODS: Data were obtained from the clinical information system of the intensive care unit (ICU) in a tertiary academic hospital for 1582 ICU patients with vasoactive drug requirement and valid paired blood gas. The mortality rates were compared between patients with sustained negative venous to arterial lactate gradient (VALac) and the others using the Cox proportional hazard model. Predictive factors associated with negative VALac were searched. RESULTS: A sustained negative VALac was significantly associated with higher 30 day ICU mortality [Adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 2.31, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.07–4.99; p = 0.032. Propensity score- weighted HR: 2.57; 95% CI, 1.17–5.64; p = 0.010]. Arterial lactate in the first blood gas pair, 24-h arterial lactate clearance, use of epinephrine, mean positive end-expiratory pressure level, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation initiation showed statistically significant association with sustained negative VALac during the first 24 h. CONCLUSION: The sustained negative VALac in the early stage of treatment may suggest additional information about tissue hypoxia than arterial lactate alone. Critical care physicians should pay more attention to the lactate discrepancy between different sites in their clinical practice. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12871-021-01237-5.