Kim JH, Jang DH, Jo YH, et al. - Researchers investigated if and how serum total carbon dioxide (TCO ₂) concentration is associated with 28-day mortality in patients with sepsis. In this multicenter retrospective cohort study, they included 3,168 patients with sepsis or septic shock.  Among these patients, the overall mortality rate of 24.1% was reported. An almost linear correlation was observed of serum TCO ₂ concentrations below 20 mmol/l with mortality as well as with lactate, bicarbonate, and pH. Findings thereby suggest that in patients with sepsis, serum TCO ₂ concentrations of 20 mmol/l or less are correlated with 28-day mortality.