Non-thyroidal Illness Syndrome (NTIS) is no independent predictor for mortality in ICU patients.

Background: Low T3-(/T4-) syndrome, also known as non-thyroidal Illness Syndrome (NTIS) describes a decrease in free serum thyroid hormones without a concomitant increase in TSH, frequently observed in critically ill patients. However, whether NTIS is only a metabolic adaption to stress in critically ill or plays a crucial role as an independent risk factor for ICU mortality, remains unknown. Our study aimed to evaluate NTIS as an independent risk factor for increased ICU mortality.

Methods: All patients admitted to the interdisciplinary intensive care unit (ICU) at the University Hospital of Leipzig between 2008 and 2014 were retrospectively analyzed for thyroidal function. Baseline data, information on additional thyroid function tests, disease progression, hospital and ICU length of stay (LOS) and patient outcome were retrospectively analyzed from the hospitals digital information system. For statistical evaluation, univariate analysis, matched pairs analysis and multivariate logistic regression were conducted.

Results: One thousand, seven hundred ninety patients were enrolled in the study, of which 665 showed NTIS. Univariate analysis revealed a positive association of NTIS with ICU- and hospital-LOS, need for mechanical ventilation, incidence of sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute liver failure and increased ICU mortality. Results of matched pair analysis confirmed these findings. In multivariate logistic regression, NTIS was associated with an increased ICU-LOS, increased duration of mechanical ventilation, acute kidney injury and liver failure, but showed no independent association with increased ICU-mortality.

Conclusion: Duration of mechanical ventilation as well as incidence of acute kidney injury, sepsis and acute liver failure were detected as independent predictors of mortality in patients with NTIS. NTIS itself was no independent predictor of increased ICU-mortality.