Association between Pre-Existing Long-Term β-Blocker Therapy and the Outcomes of Sepsis-Associated Coagulopathy: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Previous studies have suggested that long-term β-blocker therapy before sepsis is associated with reduced mortality. Sepsis-associated coagulopathy (SAC) remains a common complication in patients with sepsis and is associated with increased mortality. Adrenergic pathways are involved in the regulation of the coagulation system. Pre-existing long-term β-blocker therapy may have potentially beneficial effects on SAC and has yet to be well characterized. We aimed to assess the potential association between pre-existing long-term β-blocker therapy and the outcomes of patients with SAC. Materials and Methods: This study retrospectively screened the clinical data of adult patients with SAC admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and respiratory ICU between May 2020 and October 2022. Patients with SAC who took any β-blocker for at least one year were considered pre-existing long-term β-blocker therapy. All enrolled patients were followed up for 28 days or until death. Results: Among the 228 SAC patients, 48 received long-term β-blocker therapy before septic episodes. Pre-existing long-term β-blocker therapy was associated with reduced vasopressor requirements and a decreased 28-day mortality (log-rank test: p = 0.041). In particular, long-term β-blocker therapy was related to substantially lower D-dimer levels and a trend of improved activated partial thromboplastin time in patients with SAC during initial ICU admission. Multivariable regression analysis showed that long-term β-blocker therapy was significantly and independently associated with a 28-day mortality among patients with SAC (adjusted odds ratio, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, (0.32–0.94); p = 0.030). Conclusions: Pre-existing long-term β-blocker therapy might be associated with reduced vasopressor requirements and a decreased 28-day mortality among patients with SAC, providing evidence for the protective effect of β-blockers against SAC in managing sepsis.