Sex Differences in In-hospital Mortality of Patients With Septic Shock: An Observational Study Based on Data Analysis

Xiao Zhou1, Na Zeng2, Pei Liu1

  • 1Department of Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Frontiers in Medicine
|October 28, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Female patients with septic shock face a higher risk of in-hospital mortality compared to males. This study highlights sex-based disparities in septic shock outcomes in Beijing.

Area of Science:

  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Epidemiology
  • Sex Differences in Health

Background:

  • Septic shock is a life-threatening condition requiring urgent medical attention.
  • Understanding factors influencing septic shock outcomes is crucial for improving patient care.
  • Previous research has suggested potential sex-based differences in sepsis outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between sex and in-hospital mortality in adult patients diagnosed with septic shock.
  • To analyze demographic and clinical characteristics of male and female septic shock patients.
  • To determine if sex is an independent predictor of mortality in septic shock.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 3,643 adult patients with septic shock.
  • Data collected from secondary and tertiary hospitals in Beijing between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2019.
  • Statistical analysis including logistic regression to assess the impact of sex on mortality.

Main Results:

  • Female patients exhibited a significantly higher in-hospital mortality rate (55.54%) compared to male patients (49.29%).
  • Male patients had a higher prevalence of pulmonary infections (68.8%) than female patients.
  • Logistic regression indicated that male sex was associated with a lower likelihood of hospital mortality (OR = 0.732).

Conclusions:

  • Female patients with septic shock have a statistically significant higher risk of in-hospital death.
  • Sex is an important factor to consider in the management and prognosis of septic shock.
  • Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms for observed sex disparities in septic shock outcomes.