Faculty Collaboration Database

Disease progression in hemodynamically stable patients presenting to the emergency department with sepsis. Acad Emerg Med 2010 Apr;17(4):383-90

Date

04/08/2010

Pubmed ID

20370777

Pubmed Central ID

PMC4283798

DOI

10.1111/j.1553-2712.2010.00664.x

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-77951069775 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   116 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Aggressive diagnosis and treatment of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with septic shock has been shown to reduce mortality. To enhance the ability to intervene in patients with lesser illness severity, a better understanding of the natural history of the early progression from simple infection to more severe illness is needed.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to 1) describe the clinical presentation of ED sepsis, including types of infection and causative microorganisms, and 2) determine the incidence, patient characteristics, and mortality associated with early progression to septic shock among ED patients with infection.

METHODS: This was a multicenter study of adult ED patients with sepsis but no evidence of shock. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify patient factors for early progression to shock and its association with 30-day mortality.

RESULTS: Of 472 patients not in shock at ED presentation (systolic blood pressure > 90 mm Hg and lactate < 4 mmol/L), 84 (17.8%) progressed to shock within 72 hours. Independent factors associated with early progression to shock included older age, female sex, hyperthermia, anemia, comorbid lung disease, and vascular access device infection. Early progression to shock (vs. no progression) was associated with higher 30-day mortality (13.1% vs. 3.1%, odds ratio [OR] = 4.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.01 to 11.1; p < or = 0.001). Among 379 patients with uncomplicated sepsis (i.e., no evidence of shock or any end-organ dysfunction), 86 (22.7%) progressed to severe sepsis or shock within 72 hours of hospital admission.

CONCLUSIONS: A significant portion of ED patients with less severe sepsis progress to severe sepsis or shock within 72 hours. Additional diagnostic approaches are needed to risk stratify and more effectively treat ED patients with sepsis.

Author List

Glickman SW, Cairns CB, Otero RM, Woods CW, Tsalik EL, Langley RJ, van Velkinburgh JC, Park LP, Glickman LT, Fowler VG Jr, Kingsmore SF, Rivers EP

Author

Ronny M. Otero MD Vice Chair, Professor in the Emergency Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Analysis of Variance
Cause of Death
Cohort Studies
Combined Modality Therapy
Confidence Intervals
Disease Progression
Early Diagnosis
Emergency Service, Hospital
Emergency Treatment
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Hemodynamics
Humans
Kaplan-Meier Estimate
Logistic Models
Male
Middle Aged
Multivariate Analysis
Needs Assessment
Odds Ratio
Retrospective Studies
Risk Assessment
Sepsis
Severity of Illness Index
Sex Factors
Shock, Septic
Survival Analysis
Time Factors