EVALUATION OF HYDROCORTISONE, VITAMIN C, AND THIAMINE FOR THE TREATMENT OF SEPTIC SHOCK: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL (THE HYVITS TRIAL)

Purpose: The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of combined hydrocortisone, vitamin C, and thiamine (triple therapy) on the mortality of patients with septic shock. Methods: This multicenter, open-label, two-arm parallel-group, randomized controlled trial was conducted in four intensive care units in Qatar. Adult patients diagnosed with septic shock requiring norepinephrine at a rate of >= 0.1 mu g/kg/min for >= 6 h were randomized to a triple therapy group or a control group. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality at 60 days or at discharge, whichever occurred first. Secondary outcomes included time to death, change in Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score at 72 h of randomization, intensive care unit length of stay, hospital length of stay, and vasopressor duration. Results: A total of 106 patients (53 in each group) were enrolled in this study. The study was terminated early because of a lack of funding. The median baseline SOFA score was 10 (interquartile range, 8-12). The primary outcomes were similar between the two groups (triple therapy, 28.3% vs. control, 35.8%; P = 0.41). Vasopressor duration among the survivors was similar between the two groups (triple therapy, 50 h vs. control, 58 h; P = 0.44). Other secondary and safety endpoints were similar between the two groups. Conclusion: Triple therapy did not improve in-hospital mortality at 60 days in critically ill patients with septic shock or reduce the vasopressor duration or SOFA score at 72 h. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03380507. Registered on December 21, 2017.

Automated summary

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of combined hydrocortisone, vitamin C, and thiamine (triple therapy) on the mortality of patients with septic shock. The results showed that triple therapy did not improve in-hospital mortality at 60 days in critically ill patients with septic shock or reduce the vasopressor duration or SOFA score at 72 h.