Predictors of Progression to Shock in Patients with Sepsis

Among patients with sepsis, only a few progress to severe sepsis or septic shock. In these patients, however, early and aggressive treatment improves outcomes. To identify factors predictive of progression to septic shock, researchers conducted a retrospective chart review of 18,100 adult emergency department (ED) patients admitted to two tertiary teaching hospitals and identified 1316 who met criteria for sepsis within 4 hours of arrival. Of these patients, 111 (8.4%) were not initially in septic shock but progressed to septic shock within 48 hours.

Using multivariable logistic regression analysis, the authors identified five significant predictors of progression to septic shock: nonpersistent hypotension (systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg;…