Abstract
Background Timely and effective fluid resuscitation is vital for stabilizing sepsis while avoiding volume overload. We aimed to assess how the administration of a 30 mL/kg bolus fluid affects patients with sepsis within three hours of clinical outcomes. Methods This multicenter observational study included adult patients diagnosed with sepsis in 17 intensive care units at tertiary hospitals in Japan between July 2019 and August 2020. The clinical outcomes of patients with sepsis who received ≥30 mL/kg bolus fluid within three hours (30 × 3 group) were compared with those who received <30 mL/kg fluid (non-30 × 3 group). Results Of 172 eligible patients, 74 (43.0%) belonged to the 30 × 3 group, and 98 (57.0%) belonged to the non-30 × 3 group. The median Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score was 9 (interquartile range (Q1-Q3): 7-11) in the 30 × 3 group and 7 (Q1-Q3: 4-9) in the non-30 × 3 group (P < 0.01). The 28-day mortality rate was 29.7% in the 30 × 3 group and 12.2% in the non-30 × 3 group (P < 0.01). However, the adjusted odds ratio by the inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis with propensity score for the 28-day mortality rate of the 30 × 3 group compared with that in the non-30 × 3 group was 2.17 (95% confidence interval: 0.85-5.54). Among the propensity score-matched patients, the 28-day mortality rate was 30% in the 30 × 3 (n = 70) and non-30 × 3 (n = 95) groups, respectively (P = 0.72). Conclusions Patients with sepsis who received the 30 mL/kg bolus fluid within three hours experienced more severe clinical outcomes. However, it was not associated with the increased odds of the 28-day mortality.