Effects of hyperoxemia in patients with sepsis – A post-hoc analysis of a multicentre randomized clinical trial

Background Administration of supplemental oxygen is a life-saving treatment in critically ill patients. Still, optimal dosing remains unclear during sepsis. The aim of this post-hoc analysis was to assess the association between hyperoxemia and 90-day mortality in a large cohort of septic patients. Methods This is a post-hoc analysis of the Albumin Italian Outcome Sepsis (ALBIOS) randomized controlled trial (RCT). Patients with sepsis who survived the first 48 h since randomization were included and stratified into two groups according to their average PaO2 levels during the first 48 h (PaO2 0–48 h). The cut-off value was established at 100 mmHg (average PaO2 0–48 h >100 mmHg: hyperoxemi…