[Association of platelets with multiple organic failure in septic patients].

Background: Sepsis is a proinflammatory and procoagulant condition; platelet abnormalities constitute the main alteration, with thrombocytopenia being the most prevalent. This variation is due to multiple mechanisms, primarily the formation of microcirculatory thrombi, which leads to increased consumption. A potential association between decreased platelet counts and poor prognosis has been previously described. Objective: To establish the association between platelet counts and multiple organ failure (MOF) in septic patients in the intensive care unit. Material and methods: A single-center, cross-sectional, retrospective study including patients older than 18 years with a diagnosis of sepsis, with or without MOF, excluding those with COVID-19. Serum platelet levels were collected upon admission to the intensive care unit. The Mann-Whitney U test, ROC curve analysis, and binary logistic regression were used. Results: A total of 93 septic patients were included (46.2% with MOF). Those with MOF had lower platelet counts (149 vs. 217.5 × 10^9/L; p = 0.003), with 174 × 10^9/L identified as the best cutoff point (AUC 0.710). Platelets were also associated with MOF (OR 8.53; p = 0.003); however, in the multivariable analysis, acute kidney injury was the main factor associated with MOF (OR 27.8; p ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: A decrease in platelet count is a risk factor associated with MOF in septic patients in the intensive care unit.