Sepsis survivors are at a heightened risk of death in the years after their illness if it has been critical, research has shown.
Of those discharged from hospital in England after a critical care admission, 15% died within 12 months, according to a study published in the journal Jama Network Open.
A further 6%-8% of those who recovered from the condition died each year over the next five years, the analysis found.
Led by Dr Manu Shankar-Hari, from Guy’s and St Thomas’s hospital in London, the research included data on 94,748 patients from 192 critical care units in England.
All had had been discharged after a critical care unit admission for sepsis between April 2009 and March 2014. Of those, 44.1% were not alive by the end of March 2015.
Being older, male and having multiple health problems was found to increase the risk of death among sepsis survivors. The severity of the condition and length of hospital stay were also found to be possible risk factors.
Shankar-Hari, a critical care physician, said it was the first report on the long-term risk of death in sepsis survivors using national data from England.
“Given what we now know, we will be trying to find out what the best interventions are to prevent these deaths, how to identify those sepsis survivors who are at greatest risk and more likely to benefit the most from such interventions,” he said.
“More importantly, this new research informs the health policy debate around how to plan follow-up care of sepsis survivors and critical illness survivors in general.”
Sepsis, also known as blood poisoning or septicaemia, is a serious complication of an infection which occurs when the immune system overreacts and begins attacking organs and tissues. It can lead to multiple organ failure and death if it is not spotted in time. There are about 250,000 cases of sepsis a year in the UK, according to the UK Sepsis Trust.
Dr Ron Daniels, the chief executive of the charity, said it was important that the findings did not cause undue alarm for people who had survived sepsis.
“This research focuses specifically on patients admitted to intensive care units, who are already at higher risk of death or long-term complications following sepsis,” he said. “Whilst many survivors experience physical, physiological and emotional after-effects, the majority of people who survive sepsis will make a full recovery.
“However, this kind of research is important as it highlights the need for better resources to inform survivors about the potential risks following sepsis, and better follow-up services for those people.”
Rose Gallagher, from the Royal College of Nursing, said people who survived sepsis were left with long-term problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, fatigue, decreased cognitive function, anxiety, depression and insomnia.
“Life can be challenging not only for patients but also for their families,” she said. “The services to support these patients varies across the country and there is a need for properly resourced follow-up services to support their emotional, psychological and physical rehabilitation needs.”
