ICU sedation, delirium & recovery
An IV Sodium Bicarbonate Shortage in the Critically Ill: An Interrupted Time-Series Analysis
Main finding · Patients treated with bicarbonate, immediately after start of shortageResult — go to the resultAbsolute −7.8% 95% CI −12.8 to −2.8%Authors' conclusion
Emergency conservation measures that accompanied a worldwide shortage of IV sodium bicarbonate were associated with a reduction in IV sodium bicarbonate use among critically ill patients with acidemia. This was not linked to changes in survival or length of stay outcomes.
Study context
- Population
- Adults (≥ 18 yr) with blood pH < 7.3 admitted to 17 adult ICUs in Alberta, Canada, June 1, 2015 to 31 December 2019
- Participants
- 18,865 admissions
- Exposure
- Before vs after start of the 2017 IV sodium bicarbonate shortage
- Outcome
- Proportion of patients treated with IV sodium bicarbonate
Methodological detailssegmented regression, population-based ICU registry, multicentre
- Segmented regression
- Population-based ICU registry
- Multicentre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Patients treated with bicarbonate, immediately after start of shortage
Absolute
−7.8%
95% CI −12.8 to −2.8%
By group
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Bicarbonate recipients with pH ≤ 7.20
P < 0.01
| Outcome | Increased proportion (95% CI) |
|---|---|
| Vasopressor use (subgroup pH ≤ 7.20 not receiving bicarbonate during shortage) | 9.9% (2.4–17.4%) |
| CRRT use (subgroup pH ≤ 7.20 not receiving bicarbonate during shortage) | 8.6% (0.6–16.6%) |
Subgroup renal SOFA ≥ 3 not receiving bicarbonate during shortage
- Similar trends observed
ICU LOS and mortality (overall and subgroups)
- No change
Original publication
An IV Sodium Bicarbonate Shortage in the Critically Ill: An Interrupted Time-Series Analysis. Crit Care Med. Published 5 August 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →