Table 5

Changes in severe comorbities for admissions with severe sepsis during the first 24 hours following admission to critical care, 1996 to 2004

Immunocompromised^a

Respiratory comorbidity^b

Cardiovascular comorbidity^c

Liver comorbidity^d

Renal comorbidity^e

1996

308 (9.1)

231 (7.0)

113 (3.4)

35 (1.1)

60 (1.8)

1997

534 (8.9)

327 (5.6)

161 (2.8)

72 (1.2)

93 (1.6)

1998

714 (8.3)

468 (5.5)

214 (2.5)

134 (1.6)

140 (1.7)

1999

873 (8.5)

480 (4.7)

261 (2.6)

168 (1.7)

172 (1.7)

2000

938 (8.6)

473 (4.4)

243 (2.3)

188 (1.7)

153 (1.4)

2001

1,093 (8.2)

562 (4.2)

262 (2.0)

249 (1.9)

233 (1.8)

2002

1,418 (8.8)

650 (4.1)

323 (2.0)

288 (1.8)

236 (1.5)

2003

1,349 (8.2)

712 (4.4)

292 (1.8)

306 (1.9)

265 (1.6)

2004

615 (8.7)

262 (3.8)

120 (1.7)

104 (1.5)

98 (1.4)

Total^f

7,849 (8.5)

4,167 (4.6)

1,989 (2.2)

1,544 (1.7)

1,450 (1.6)

Values are number (percentage of admissions with evidence available to assess past medical history) presenting with the specified comorbidity. ^aImmunocompromised defined as AIDS, daily steroid treatment for past six months, radiotherapy or chemotherapy within past six months, metastatic disease, acute or chronic myelogenous or lymphocytic leukaemia, multiple myeloma, lymphoma, or congenital immunohumoral or cellular immune deficiency state. ^bRespiratory comorbidity defined as shortness of breath with light activity due to pulmonary disease, or using home ventilation. ^cCardiovascular comorbidity defined as fatigue, dyspnoea or angina at rest due to myocardial or peripheral vascular disease (New York Heart Association Functional Class IV). ^dLiver comorbidity defined as biopsy proven cirrhosis, portal hypertension, or hepatic encephalopathy. ^eRenal comorbidity defined as requirement for renal replacement therapy for irreversible renal disease. ^fTotal includes 55 admissions from 1995 and 78 admissions from 2005.

Harrison et al. Critical Care 2006 10:R42   doi:10.1186/cc4854