Researchers have discovered which groups of people are more likely to die from sepsis.
Analysis of NHS data shows that people with certain medical conditions and disadvantaged people are at a higher risk of developing sepsis and also a higher risk of death.
People with a “history of extensive antibiotic exposure” are also at greater risk – as are people with learning disabilities, experts found.
Do you know the signs of #sepsis?
S – Slurred speechE – Extreme shivering/muscle painP – No urinationS – Severe shortness of breathI – Feels like you are going to dieS – Mottled/discolored skinIf you suspect sepsis, call 9⃣9⃣9⃣ pic.twitter.com/6HANHAe1Ma
— West Midlands Ambulance Service #HelpUsHelpYou (@OFFICIALWMAS) November 18, 2023
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition and occurs when the body overreacts to an infection and begins to attack its own tissues and organs.
In the new study, led by a team from the University of Manchester, experts looked at data on 224,000 cases of sepsis in England between January 2019 and June 2022.
These cases were compared with more than 1.3 million people who did not have sepsis.
Researchers used a standardized measure of socio-economic disadvantage, using information on income, employment, crime rates, living environment and education.
They found that people from the most deprived communities were 80% more likely to develop sepsis compared to people from the least deprived.
After adjusting for other factors, they found that people with a learning disability were at least three times more likely to be diagnosed with sepsis than those without.
People with chronic liver disease have a threefold increased risk of developing sepsis, while people with chronic kidney disease had an increased risk two to six times higher than the general population, depending on the stage of their disease.
Patients with cancer, neurological disorders, diabetes and immunosuppressive conditions were also at increased risk.
People who were underweight or obese were also more likely to develop sepsis.
Smokers also appeared to be at higher risk, according to the study, which was published in the journal eClinicalMedicine.
The researchers also reported that people of South Asian descent appeared to have a higher incidence of sepsis.
The academics also looked at deaths within 30 days of a sepsis diagnosis.
They found that deaths were highest among people in their 80s and among people of white ethnicity.
But after conducting a statistical analysis of the figures, they found that people from disadvantaged backgrounds, along with patients with chronic kidney disease and chronic liver disease, were the groups at increased risk of dying within 30 days.
Co-author Professor Tjeerd van Staa, from the University of Manchester, said: “This study shows that socio-economic deprivation, comorbidities and learning disabilities are associated with an increased risk of developing non-Covid-19 related sepsis and 30-day mortality in England. .
“This study highlights the urgent need for sepsis risk prediction models to take into account chronic disease status, deprivation status and learning disabilities, along with severity of infection.
“There is an urgent need to improve sepsis prevention, including more accurate targeting of antimicrobials to higher-risk patients.”
Study co-author Dr Colin Brown, head of antimicrobial resistance and sepsis at the UK Health Security Agency, added: “While serious infections and sepsis can affect anyone, our data increasingly highlights the complex interplay between socio-economic status , underlying medical conditions and sepsis. risk.
“Our research has shown that some people are more likely to die from sepsis than others, including those in the lowest socio-economic groups, and that those who need to take antibiotics more often are also at greater risk.
“Tackling inequalities is a core part of our public health approach and better understanding who serious bacterial infections affect will help us best target interventions to tackle them.”
Dr. Ron Daniels, founder and co-director of the UK Sepsis Trust, added: “As an intensive care physician in inner-city Birmingham, I regularly see patients from underrepresented communities presenting late with sepsis.
“This important study reminds us that socio-economic status and the presence of an underlying disease – themselves often linked and linked to ethnicity – play a role in determining disparities in the risk of developing non-Covid sepsis.
“The health care system has a duty to reduce this inequality and improve access for all.
“This study therefore highlights the need for targeted education among members of the public in at-risk communities and for the health care workers who serve them. That’s why advocacy groups like the UK Sepsis Trust are working to develop resources in multiple languages, including different skin tones.
“However, we must remember that while the risk factors identified in this study are important, sepsis can still strike indiscriminately.”
Sepsis is considered a medical emergency, but it can be difficult to recognize.
In adults, sepsis may initially feel like the flu, gastroenteritis, or a respiratory infection.
Early symptoms include fever, chills and chills, a fast heart rate, and rapid breathing.
Symptoms of sepsis or septic shock include feeling dizzy or faint, confusion or disorientation, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and colds, clammy and pale or mottled skin.
Any child who breathes very quickly, has a seizure, or looks blotchy, bluish, or pale, or has a rash that does not fade when you press on it, may have sepsis.
And a baby or child under five who is not drinking, has repeated vomiting, or has not had a small or wet diaper for 12 hours may have sepsis.
The British Sepsis Trust said the condition affects 245,000 people and claims 48,000 lives in Britain every year.