GDF15 and septic shock: The GDF15 levels of the two groups of patients after admission to the hospital did not fluctuate greatly (P > 0.05), and the GDF15 levels of the sepsis group and the septic shock group were not significantly different on the 1st day and the 3rd day (P > 0.05); nevertheless, the levels of GDF15 in the septic shock group were higher than that in the sepsis group on the 7th day (P < 0.05).