Abstract

Sepsis is defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated inflammatory host response to infection. Among the vulnerable population, Geriatric patients stand out as a high-risk group due to age-related physiological changes, immunosenescence, and a higher prevalence of comorbidities displaying higher mortality rates. We wanted to explore the various etiologies, clinical profiles, and outcome of sepsis in geriatric patients in a tertiary hospital. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study, where geriatric patients aged 65 years and above, admitted in the Departments of General Medicine (Wards and ICUs) in King George hospital, Visakhapatnam, diagnosed with sepsis were followed up from admission until their discharge or until the end of their hospital stay. The clinical profile of the patients and their outcome was assessed. The study population consisted predominant male (69.3%)and belonged to the age group 65-70years (73.9%). The study revealed an in-hospital mortality rate of 31.8% among geriatric patients admitted with sepsis, with diabetes mellitus being the most prevalent comorbid condition. Common presenting symptoms included fever (17.6%), shortness of breath (17%), and limb swelling (10.8%), with skin and soft tissue infections being the most frequent infection site (37%), followed by urosepsis (35.2%) and respiratory tract infections (14.8%). Klebsiella was the most common organism isolated from cultures, followed by Staphylococcus aureus. Patients who succumbed to sepsis had a higher mean age, shorter duration from symptom onset to hospitalization, higher respiratory rates, elevated white blood cell counts, lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores, and higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score.

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