Preventing Chronic Critical Illness and Rehospitalization: A Focus on Sepsis

Abstract

An estimated 14 million patients survive sepsis hospitalization each year. However, survivors commonly experience new functional disability, cognitive impairment, and a high rate of further medical setbacks, including hospital readmission and late death. One in 5 older survivors has a potentially preventable hospital admission with in 90 days, most commonly for infection. Treatment should focus on preventing the common sequelae of critical illness during the initial hospitalization, tailoring medical care to minimize the risk for common and potentially preventable causes of hospital readmission, and promoting functional recovery.

Keywords: Infection; Patient readmission; Respiratory aspiration; Sepsis.