Fig. 1

Diagram describing the calculation of lactate load and normalized lactate load. Each “T” on the x-axis represents the chart time of lactate measurement, while the corresponding “Lac” represents the corresponding lactate values. Lactate load was calculated as: ((Lac₁ + Lac₀)/2)) * (T₁ - T₀) + ((Lac₂ + Lac₁)/2)) * (T₂ - T₁) + … + ((Lac₂₄ + Lac_N)/2)) * (T₂₄ - T_N). Where the T₀ represents ICU admission time, and the corresponding Lac₀ was defined as equals to Lac₁. Similarly, Lac₂₄ (lactate value at 24 h after admission) was defined as equals to Lac_N, where the Lac_N represents the last measured lactate value in the 24 h. Normalized lactate load was calculated as lactate load divided by (T₂₄ – T₀), which actually equals to 24 h