Sepsis and Subsequent Psychiatric Morbidity: A Nationwide Population-Based Matched Cohort Study, 2008-2019

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.
• The long-term sequelae of sepsis, particularly psychiatric morbidity, require further investigation.
• Understanding the post-sepsis trajectory of mental health is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the risk of developing psychiatric conditions after community-acquired sepsis.
• To determine if new chronic diseases mediate the association between sepsis and psychiatric morbidity.
• To assess the temporal pattern of psychiatric risk following sepsis.

Main Methods:

• A nationwide, population-based matched cohort study in Sweden.
• Utilized linked national registers for sepsis cases (2008-2019) and matched population controls.
• Employed weighted Cox regression and a landmark approach to estimate psychiatric event hazards.

Main Results:

• Sepsis was associated with substantially increased hazards of psychiatric events compared to controls.
• The highest risks were observed within the first year post-sepsis (e.g., aHR 6.2 at 0-30 days).
• The elevated risk persisted for at least five years, though it attenuated over time.

Conclusions:

• Patients with sepsis exhibit a higher incidence of psychiatric events long after recovery.
• The findings suggest sepsis has a lasting impact on psychiatric health.
• Preventive strategies for post-sepsis psychiatric morbidity should be considered.