Sepsis, a severe response to infection causing organ failure, is a major health issue globally, involved in about one-fifth of all deaths.
Each year, it claims the lives of 11 million people, including nearly 3 million children. In Norway, this silent killer affects thousands annually, leading to 3,000 deaths every year.
Nina Vibeche Skei, a doctoral research fellow at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and a senior anesthetist at Levanger Hospital, explains that sepsis is more than just an infection.
It’s an overwhelming immune response that can shut down the body’s organs. Contrary to popular belief, sepsis doesn’t just affect the elderly. Many survivors are between 18 and 60 years old, and they face long-term health challenges.
Surviving sepsis doesn’t mean the battle is over. Many survivors deal with ongoing health problems and a lower quality of life.
They often develop new chronic illnesses or experience worsening of existing ones. Simple daily activities can become difficult.
A key concern for survivors is their ability to return to work. Lise Tuset Gustad, a researcher at Nord University and Levanger Hospital, led a study to understand this aspect.
Published in the journal Critical Care, the study looked at the employment status of sepsis survivors in Norway.
The findings were concerning. They studied 36,000 sepsis patients aged 18 to 60 and found that only about 59% returned to work six months after hospital discharge.
The number slightly increased to 67% after a year but dropped again to 63% after two years. This means almost 40% were still out of work two years after their illness.
Several factors influenced the likelihood of returning to work. Younger patients, those with fewer chronic conditions, and less severe organ failure had better chances.
In contrast, older patients, those with chronic illnesses, or who suffered multiple organ failures, faced greater challenges. Intensive care patients had a 50% lower chance of returning to work compared to those treated in regular wards.
Interestingly, patients who contracted sepsis as a result of COVID-19 were more likely to return to work compared to other sepsis patients.
The study revealed no signs of improvement in helping sepsis patients return to work over the past decade. In fact, the situation seemed to have worsened. The reasons for this decline and potential solutions need further investigation.
In conclusion, sepsis not only poses a significant mortality risk but also severely impacts survivors’ ability to return to their normal lives, particularly in the context of employment.
This highlights the need for better post-sepsis care and rehabilitation strategies to improve the long-term outcomes for these patients.
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The research findings can be found in Critical Care.
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