Sepsis Mortality in the U.S. Correctional System: An Underappreciated Disparity

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Health Disparities

Background:

• The impact of incarceration on sepsis outcomes is understudied in the United States.
• Sepsis is a life-threatening condition requiring prompt medical attention.
• Understanding disparities in sepsis care is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if incarceration status affects in-hospital mortality rates among sepsis patients.
• To quantify the association between incarceration and sepsis-related death.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study utilizing data from October 2013 to November 2016.
• Analysis of 8,568 sepsis admissions at a tertiary care center.
• Comparison of in-hospital mortality between incarcerated (inmates) and non-incarcerated (non-inmates) patients.

Main Results:

• Overall sepsis mortality was 15.7%.
• Inmate sepsis mortality rate was 42.5% compared to 15.3% for non-inmates.
• Incarcerated patients faced a 2.8 times higher risk of death from sepsis, independent of age, sex, or race.

Conclusions:

• Incarceration is directly associated with increased sepsis mortality.
• Urgent need for further large-scale studies to confirm these findings.
• Implications for correctional healthcare and post-release care are significant.