Frontiers in the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy: current status and prospects

Abstract

Sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SIC) is an acute reversible myocardial dysfunction complicating sepsis. With impaired cardiac systolic and diastolic function, it greatly increases the risk of multiple organ failure and mortality in septic patients. This systematic review outlines the overall research landscape of SIC, including pathological mechanisms, epidemiological profiles, updated diagnostic systems and innovative therapeutic strategies, as well as existing challenges and future research priorities. Five major pathological pathways jointly mediate SIC progression, and its prevalence and mortality differ substantially across regions, populations and infectious pathogens. The diagnostic framework has been updated to a multi-dimensional evaluation system, and emerging imaging techniques and combined biomarker panels have greatly improved early diagnostic performance. Therapeutic concepts have transformed from conventional symptomatic care to mechanism-oriented precise intervention, with multiple new therapies and intelligent medical tools applied clinically. At present, inconsistent diagnostic criteria, insufficient specific medications and unbalanced medical resources worldwide hinder clinical management. Future studies aim to standardize diagnostic criteria, explore molecular mechanisms, accelerate the clinical application of targeted drugs, and popularize advanced technologies in under-resourced areas to improve patient outcomes.