Epidemiology of community-acquired sepsis in the Faroe Islands – a prospective observational study

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of the study was to gather nation-wide epidemiological and clinical data in order to characterize community-acquired sepsis in the Faroe Islands, and to compare these data with epidemiological studies performed in other geographical areas.

Methods: A prospective, observational study conducted from October 2013 until April 2015 to characterize sepsis, and to calculate incidence rates for community-acquired sepsis of any severity, community-acquired severe sepsis, community-acquired septic shock and community-acquired sepsis without community-acquired severe sepsis or community-acquired septic shock.

Results: Of 5279 admissions, 583 cases fulfilled the criteria for community-acquired sepsis of any severity. The mean age of all cases was 67.6 ± 18.3 years. Men accounted for 298 (51.5%) admissions. Charlson comorbidity index was greater than 2 in 247 (42.4%) cases. The incidence of community-acquired sepsis of any severity was 1414/100,000 person-years at risk (95% CI, 1374–1440). The incidence rate for community-acquired sepsis without community-acquired severe sepsis and community-acquired septic shock was 719/100,000 person-years at risk (95% CI, 695–742), for community-acquired severe sepsis 644/100,000 person-years at risk (95% CI, 623–668), for community-acquired septic shock 51/100,000 person-years at risk (95% CI, 45–58). The highest incidence was seen in elderly patients.

Conclusion: The incidence rates were slightly higher in men and increased with age, especially in those older than 85 years. Incidence rates of sepsis of any severity were higher than previously published from other countries.

Keywords:

• Community-acquired infections
• Sepsis
• Severe sepsis
• Septic shock
• Incidence

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Teaching assistant dr Aleksandra Ignjatovic for help with statistical analyses, Senior Scientist Amanda Gratton Vang for proofreading and Professor PhD Hannes Gislason for statistical advices.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The project was funded by the Research Council Faroe Islands [Grant number 0330] and the National Hospital Faroe Islands.