Age- and sex-related outcomes in patients with sepsis or septic shock: a prospective monocentric cohort study
Background: Despite advances in the diagnosis and management of sepsis and septic shock (SS), sepsis is still characterized by mortality rates of up to 30% at 30 days, underlining the need for optimized risk stratification. This study investigated the influence of age and sex on short-term mortality...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
29 May 2026
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| In: |
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Year: 2026, Volume: 15, Issue: 11, Pages: 1-15 |
| ISSN: | 2077-0383 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/jcm15114203 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15114203 Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/11/4203 
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| Author Notes: | Omar Hajji, Michael Behnes, Jonas Rusnak, Schanas Jawhar, Lea Marie Brück, Floriana Dulatahu, Svetlana Hetjens, Mohammad Abumayyaleh, Ibrahim Akin, Tobias Schupp and Kathrin Weidner |
| Summary: | Background: Despite advances in the diagnosis and management of sepsis and septic shock (SS), sepsis is still characterized by mortality rates of up to 30% at 30 days, underlining the need for optimized risk stratification. This study investigated the influence of age and sex on short-term mortality in patients with sepsis and SS. Methods: This prospective, single-center, observational study included consecutive patients with sepsis/SS treated at a medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a University Medical Center between 2019 and 2021. Sepsis and SS were defined according to Sepsis-3 criteria. Patients were stratified by sex and age (≤75 vs. >75 years and per one-year increase). The primary endpoint was 30-day all-cause mortality. Survival was assessed by Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox regression analyses. Results: A total of 361 patients were included after screening 2596 ICU patients. Baseline characteristics were largely similar between men and women, whereas older patients had a greater burden of cardiovascular comorbidities and higher illness severity; 30-day mortality did not differ between men and women (51.9% vs. 52.3%; p = 0.948), whereas patients aged >75 years had higher 30-day mortality than younger patients (60.2% vs. 47.9%; p = 0.027). In multivariable Cox regression, age > 75 years remained independently associated with mortality (HR 1.391, 95% CI 1.021-1.896; p = 0.036), while sex was not (HR 1.016, 95% CI 0.740-1.396; p = 0.920). Sensitivity analysis using age as a continuous variable confirmed this association. Conclusions: In this prospective, registry-based, ICU cohort, older age was independently associated with higher short-term mortality in patients with sepsis or SS, whereas sex was not. Sex-related differences in treatment intensity and organ dysfunction markers were nevertheless observed and warrant further investigation. |
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| Item Description: | Gesehen am 20.07.2026 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 2077-0383 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/jcm15114203 |