Depression as risk factor for sepsis
Depression as risk factor for sepsis

Summary/Abstract: Sepsis continues to be one of the most challenging problems in medicine. Unfortunately, after thirty years of clinical trials, no disease-specific therapy has been discovered, the overall incidence of sepsis continues to rise and mortality remains unacceptably high. Sepsis is an often fatal condition, killing 20% to 50% of patients with this diagnosis. It is the second leading cause of death among patients in non-coronary intensive care units and the tenth leading cause of death in the world. In addition, the quality of life of patients surviving sepsis is significantly reduced. The present article highlights the hypothesis that depressive symptoms of presepsis are associated with the risk of cognitive impairment in patients with severe sepsis. Thus, depression is closely linked to impaired immune function and a pro-inflammatory state, frequently coexisting with stress, and has plausible connections to the risk of sepsis. These mechanisms have been involved in increasing the risk of infection reported among people with depression and other mood disorders. Conclusion: Substantial depressive symptoms are independently associated with cognitive impairment post-sepsis. Elderly people with depression may be at particular risk of developing cognitive impairment after a severe illness.

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