Sepsis is a complex clinical syndrome that has been defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. It is more frequent and severe in older subjects, at least in part because of delayed diagnosis and treatment due to low clinical suspicion and atypical manifestation. The Sepsis-III consensus proposed the easy to use bedside clinical score quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) to identify patients at risk for sepsis and death outside intensive care units. However, some Authors have disputed this recommendation, proposting the use of other more complex bedside tools such as the National and Modified Early Warning Scores (NEWS and MEWS, respectively) for the same purpose. Published studies on these scores included generally younger, selected subjects, not fully representative of the population at risk for sepsis. In the present study we aimed to evaluate the incidence of sepsis in older subjects with suspected infection in a geriatric acute ward setting, to determine and compare the accuracies of qSOFA, NEWS and MEWS to identify sepsis and to investigate factors associated with in-hospital mortality.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
580
Clinical bedside tool that evaluates three vital parameters, scoring one point each if altered: respiratory rate (RR) ≥22 breaths/minute, systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≤100 mmHg and altered mental status (defined in our study as either Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score \<15 or any worsening in the Italian Oriented, Disoriented, Agitated, Sleepy scale). A qSOFA score ≥2 points is considered indicative of sepsis.
Clinical bedside tool that evaluates five vital parameters, with multiple scoring according to alteration: respiratory rate (0-3 points), heart rate (0-3 points), systolic blood pressure (0-3 points), body temperature (0-2 points), mental status (0-3 points, evaluated using the Alert, Verbal, Pain, Unresponsive - AVPU scale). A MEWS score ≥5 points is considered indicative of an acute condition at risk of sudden clinical deterioration.
Clinical bedside tool that evaluates seven parameters, with multiple scoring according to alteration: respiratory rate (0-3 points), oxygen saturation (0-3 points), need for any supplemental oxygen (0-2 points), body temperature (0-3 points), heart rate (0-3 points), systolic blood pressure (0-3 points), mental status (0-3 points, evaluated using the Alert, Verbal, Pain, Unresponsive - AVPU scale). A NEWS score ≥7 points is considered indicative of an acute condition at risk of sudden clinical deterioration.
S.C. Geriatria U, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino
Turin, Italy
Sepsis diagnosis at discharge
Presence in discharge documents of International Classification of Diseases 9th revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes at discharge of either severe sepsis (995.92) or septic shock (785.52) or as the simultaneous presence in discharge documents of ICD-9-CM codes of infection and at least one acute organ dysfunction (Angus method).
Time frame: 10 days from enrollment in mean (discharge from hospital)
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