Study Reveals Cancer and Dementia Significantly Increase Death Risk in Sepsis Patients
New Delhi: A recent study has shed light on cancer and dementia as significant risk factors that raise mortality rates in patients with sepsis admitted to emergency departments.
The findings suggest that these conditions are major contributors to the high risk of death associated with sepsis, a life-threatening medical emergency that requires immediate intervention.
Sepsis occurs when the body has an extreme and abnormal response to an infection, leading to widespread inflammation and potential organ failure. It affects millions of people worldwide and is considered a leading cause of death in hospitals.
Sepsis can stem from bacterial, viral, or fungal infections, and without timely treatment, it can rapidly escalate, resulting in critical damage to tissues and organs.
Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial in improving the chances of survival, yet even with appropriate medical care, the condition remains deadly for many, particularly those with underlying health issues.
The Danish research team leading this study identified several factors that significantly increased the risk of death in sepsis patients. Alongside cancer and dementia, older age and pre-existing heart disease were also found to be key contributors to mortality.
“We found that certain factors increased the risk of death after sepsis, including, not surprisingly, advanced age,” said Dr. Finn E. Nielsen, a senior scientist in the Department of Clinical Epidemiology at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
“Additionally, conditions such as dementia, heart disease, cancer, and previous hospitalisation with sepsis within the last six months before admission also elevated the risk of dying during a median follow-up period of two years,” Nielsen added.
The study, which was presented at the European Emergency Medicine Congress in Copenhagen, focused on a prospective study of 714 adult patients who had been admitted to emergency departments with sepsis between October 2017 and March 2018.
After a median follow-up period of two years, the research team found that 361 patients, or 50.6 per cent, had died from sepsis or other causes during that time. The findings emphasize how pre-existing conditions exacerbate the impact of sepsis on patients' overall survival.
The researchers highlighted specific factors that contributed to the higher risk. For example, older age increased the risk of death by 4 per cent for each additional year. A history of cancer more than doubled the risk (121 per cent), while ischaemic heart disease increased the risk by 39 per cent.
Dementia was found to increase the risk of death by 90 per cent, and a previous sepsis admission within six months increased the risk by 48 per cent.
“Recognising that sepsis is a serious illness with high mortality is crucial,” Nielsen stated.
However, as this study was conducted in a single centre, the team emphasized that further research with larger, multi-centre prospective studies is necessary to confirm and expand upon these findings.
The study serves as an important reminder of the severity of sepsis and the compounded risk it poses to individuals with pre-existing conditions, stressing the need for increased awareness and better strategies for managing high-risk patients.
Rishika Verma is a graduate from Delhi University. She joined Medical Dialogues in 2023. Her interest lies in reporting health news, hospital updates, health updates, medical case studies, and advancements in healthcare, etc.