Evaluation Value and Clinical Significance of Cardiac Troponin Level and Pediatric Sequential Organ Failure Score in the Definition of Sepsis 3.0 in Critically Ill Children

OBJECTIVE: A case-control study was conducted to explore the value and clinical significance of troponin level and pediatric sequential organ failure score in the evaluation of sepsis 3.0 definition in critically ill children. METHODS: 180 children with sepsis who were admitted to the ICU from March 2019 to June 2021 were enrolled in our hospital as the research objects. In addition, 100 children with general infection did not meet the diagnostic criteria of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) as controls. The creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) data at the 1st and 24-72 h after admission to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) were enrolled as the observation indexes of myocardial enzymology. In the meantime, the relevant literature was reviewed to obtain the indicators related to sepsis death. The data of the first examination in the medical history data were enrolled for analysis. According to the definition of sepsis 3.0 in critically ill children, they were assigned into sepsis and nonsepsis group. According to the survival outcome of discharge and 30 days after discharge, the patients were assigned into the death subgroup and survival subgroup and were assigned into the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score ≥ 2 subgroup and< 2 subgroup according to SOFA score. COX proportional hazard regression was used to analyze the relationship between CK-MB, cTnI, and SOFA scores and prognosis. ROC curve was adopted to analyze the value of CK-MB, cTnI, and SOFA scores in the evaluation of critical sepsis in children. RESULTS: Univariate analysis indicated that the prognosis of children with sepsis was correlated with abnormal levels of CK-MB and cTnI, SOFA score, oxygenation index < 200, mean arterial pressure, and Glasgow coma scale (GCS), and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The results of COX regression analysis indicated that the variables that were remarkably associated with death from sepsis in children were CK-MB, elevated cTnI levels, and SOFA score ≥ 2, and serum cTnI and/or CK-MB levels and SOFA score were remarkably higher correlation (r = 0.453, P < 0.05). In terms of the myocardial enzyme levels in the sepsis group and the nonsepsis group, the levels of CK-MB and (or) cTnI augmented in 121/180 cases (67.22%) in the sepsis group and in 19/100 cases (19.00%) in the nonsepsis group. The levels of CK-MB and (or) cTnI were augmented, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The levels of CK-MB and cTnI in the sepsis group at admission to ICU and 24 to 72 hours after admission were remarkably higher compared to the nonsepsis group. The levels of CK-MB and cTnI at 24-72 h were higher compared to ICU. The myocardial enzyme levels of different SOFA scores and survival outcome subgroups in the sepsis group were compared. The subgroup with SFOA score ≥ 2 points had remarkably higher levels of CK-MB and (or) cTnI than the subgroup with <2 points. The survival subgroup of CK-MB and cTnI level was remarkably higher compared to the death subgroup, the CK-MB and cTnI levels in each subgroup at 224-72 hours were remarkably higher compared to the ICU, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test indicated that the survival rates of groups 1 to 4 at 30 days were 33.23%, 78.71%, 40.03%, and 100.00%, respectively. The average survival time and their 95% CI were 12.82 d (10.52~ 16.26 d), 22.34 d (18.76~ 25.81 d), 14.65 d (11.62~ 16.38 d), and 30 d (30.00~ 30.00 d), respectively. Pairwise comparison indicated that the survival time of children in group 1 was the shortest, and that in group 4 was the longest. The results of ROC curve research showed that the CK-MB, cTnI, and SOFA scores and AUC for the combination test were 0.778 (95% CI 0.642–0.914), 0.736 (95% CI 0.602–0.890), 0.848 (95% CI 0.733–0.963), and 0.934 (95% CI 0.854–0.999), respectively. The AUC of combined diagnosis was remarkably higher compared to single factor prediction, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Predictive value showed the joint test > SOFA score > CK − MB > cTnI. CONCLUSION: Troponin level and pediatric SOFA score can be adopted as effective indicators to assess the severity and prognosis of patients with sepsis and can guide the formulation of a reasonable treatment plan.