For a condition as severe as sepsis, one would assume that its diagnosis would be top priority.
However, a team of researchers from Lund University in Sweden has found that the condition is significantly underdiagnosed, with more than 4% of all hospital admissions in southern Sweden being related to sepsis.
The situation is dire enough for the European Sepsis Alliance to commission the researchers to assess its prevalence across Europe.
The Gravity of the Situation
The study led by Adam Linder, an associate professor at the Department of Infection Medicine at Lund University and a senior physician at Skåne University Hospital, revealed some alarming numbers.
With an incidence rate of 750 adults per 100,000 people, sepsis is as prevalent as cancer and as deadly as an acute myocardial infarction. Moreover, 20% of all sepsis patients in the study died within three months.
“Among sepsis survivors, three-quarters also experience long-term complications such as heart attacks, kidney problems, and cognitive difficulties,” says Linder, emphasizing the long-lasting consequences of the disease.
A Challenge in Diagnosis
Co-researcher Lisa Mellhammar highlighted the complexities involved in diagnosing sepsis.
Doctors often use diagnostic codes to categorize patients, and since sepsis is usually a secondary condition resulting from an infection, it is often underdiagnosed.
“Given that the primary disease often dictates the diagnostic code, accurately determining the number of sepsis cases has been challenging,” says Mellhammar.
A Call for Pan-European Surveillance
With the backing of the European Sepsis Alliance, the researchers are now set to expand their studies to other European nations.
Given that health care systems vary significantly across Europe, the team has undertaken a pilot study in southern Sweden to validate their methods for applicability across European hospitals.
The aim is to influence the European Union to establish a unified surveillance system for sepsis, and preliminary conversations have already begun with authorities and researchers from around thirty European countries.
The Threat of Antibiotic Resistance
The situation could be even worse in other parts of Europe, where antibiotic-resistant cases of sepsis might be more prevalent.
In Swedish hospitals, only 2% of all sepsis patients are antibiotic-resistant, a proportion that could potentially be much higher in other countries.
“As the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant sepsis cases is likely higher in other parts of Europe, improving diagnostic methods and finding alternative treatments to antibiotics are essential,” concludes Linder.
An Urgent Call to Action
Linder and his team are not only calling for better diagnostic methods but also for increased awareness about sepsis among the public and policymakers.
“Enhancing awareness about the magnitude of the sepsis problem is crucial for resource allocation and the development of effective prevention and treatment strategies,” says Linder.
As the researchers prepare to broaden their investigation to the rest of Europe, their findings serve as a chilling reminder: sepsis is not just a medical condition; it’s a largely overlooked epidemic that requires immediate and coordinated action.
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The study was published in JAMA Network Open.
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