RecruitingNot Applicable

Cortisol Levels and Mortality in Septic Shock ICU Patients

Turkey (Türkiye)183 participantsStarted 2026-05-01

Plain-language summary

This prospective observational study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of cortisol levels and their dynamic changes in critically ill patients with sepsis and septic shock admitted to the intensive care unit. Cortisol plays a crucial role in maintaining hemodynamic stability and modulating the inflammatory response during critical illness, and relative adrenal insufficiency has been associated with worse clinical outcomes. Adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit with sepsis or septic shock will be enrolled and followed prospectively. Serum cortisol levels will be measured, and their association with clinical outcomes, including intensive care unit mortality, 28-day mortality, and 90-day mortality, will be analyzed. In addition, the relationship between cortisol levels and disease severity scores such as SOFA and APACHE, as well as laboratory parameters including inflammatory biomarkers, will be evaluated. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the early identification of high-risk patients and improve prognostic assessment in critically ill patients with sepsis and septic shock.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 years or older * Admission to the intensive care unit for more than 24 hours * Presence of a clinically or microbiologically confirmed source of infection * Diagnosis of sepsis or septic shock during ICU stay Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy * Known disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis * Known disorders affecting cortisol secretion 4.Long-term systemic glucocorticoid use (≥3 months)

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

1.ICU mortality

Timeframe: During the first 28 days of ICU stay; if the patient is discharged from the ICU to the ward or dies earlier, the follow-up period will end at that time.

28 day mortality

Timeframe: Up to 28 days after ICU admission

90 day mortality

Timeframe: Up to 90 days after ICU admission

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07582926

SponsorAnkara Etlik City Hospital

Sponsor typeOTHER_GOV

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2026-10-30

Contact for this trial

Ilkem S. Ersayin, MD

+90(543)6459248 ilkemselin@gmail.com

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Sepsis trials