OR in the News

Mahmoodpoor, A., Chalkias, A., Izadi, M., et al. | Intensive Crit Care Nurs (2025) 86:103796 | Association of norepinephrine with pressure ulcer development in critically ill patients with COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome: A dose-response analysis

November 29, 2025

Objectives: To investigate the correlation between varying doses of norepinephrine (NE) and the incidence of pressure injuries (PIs) in COVID-19 patients in intensive care units (ICUs).

Design: A retrospective multicenter study was conducted on 1,078 COVID-19 patients admitted to ICUs with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring mechanical ventilation. The study was conducted between March 2020 and April 2021 across five university-affiliated hospitals in Iran. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses, along with linear and non-linear dose-response assessments, were used to evaluate the relationship between NE dosage and the probability of PI development.

Findings: Multivariate analysis revealed a significant association between higher doses of NE administered over 24 hours (OR: 1.832, 95% CI: 1.218-2.754, P = 0.004) and cumulative NE doses (OR: 1.408, 95% CI: 1.204-1.975, P = 0.048) with the occurrence of PIs. Patients receiving high NE doses had a nearly fourfold increased risk of developing PIs, regardless of PI stage, compared with those receiving low or moderate doses (>15 µg/min vs. ≤15 µg/min; OR: 4.401, 95% CI: 3.339-5.801, P = 0.001). Although the linear dose-response analysis did not show a significant correlation between NE dosage and PI development (P > 0.05), the non-linear analysis indicated that NE doses ≤9 µg/min were associated with a reduced risk of PI development.

Conclusion: Maintaining NE infusion within the range of 1-9 µg/min appears to be most effective in reducing the likelihood of pressure injuries in ICU patients with COVID-19. Lower NE doses (≤9 µg/min) were associated with a lower risk of PI development, suggesting that factors beyond NE dosage or the use of other vasopressors may play a crucial role in PI formation in this patient population.

Implications for Clinical Practice: Rather than suggesting a specific threshold, clinicians should consider further studies to determine the optimal dose that balances microvascular perfusion and patient outcomes. It is crucial to comprehensively evaluate additional factors and selectively use vasopressors. Individualized care, including regular monitoring and personalized treatment plans, is essential for achieving the best outcomes in this patient population.