Table 3.
Characteristics and clinical findings of patients with sepsis who had face-to-face GP assessment (n=100), in whom infection was suspected or not suspected
| Infection suspected by GP† | ||
| Yes (n=57), n (%) |
No (n=43), n (%) |
|
| Age (years), median (IQR) | 66 (58–77) | 71 (61–81)* |
| Female | 25 (43.9) | 16 (37.2) |
| Multimorbidity | 24 (42.1) | 14 (32.6) |
| Source of infection | ||
| Respiratory tract | 25 (43.9) | 17 (39.5) |
| Urinary tract | 11 (19.3) | 7 (16.3) |
| Abdominal | 11 (19.3) | 10 (23.3) |
| Skin/soft-tissue | 5 (8.8) | 2 (4.7) |
| Other | 5 (8.8) | 7 (16.3) |
| Clinical assessment GP | ||
| Recorded vital signs, mean (SD) | 2.4 (1.0) | 1.6 (1.3)** |
| Temperature recorded | 42 (73.7) | 18 (41.9)* |
| Temperature >38.0°C | 31 (54.4) | 5 (11.6)** |
| Blood pressure recorded | 39 (68.4) | 26 (60.5) |
| Systolic blood pressure <100 mm Hg | 11 (19.3) | 6 (14.0) |
| Heart rate recorded | 42 (73.7) | 24 (55.8) |
| Heart rate >130 beats/min | 10 (17.5) | 2 (4.7) |
| Respiratory rate recorded | 13 (22.8) | 2 (4.7)* |
| Respiratory rate >25 breaths/min | 9 (15.8) | 2 (4.7) |
| Altered mental status | 9 (15.8) | 9 (20.9) |
| Rigors | 10 (17.5) | 4 (9.3) |
| Not able to stand | 8 (14.0) | 6 (14.0) |
| Rapid progression of illness | 12 (21.1) | 9 (20.9) |
| Hospital data | ||
| CRP (mg/L), mean (SD) | 192 (149) | 197 (178) |
| APACHE II score, mean (SD) | 20.5 (7.3) | 24.3 (8.1) |
| SOFA score, mean (SD) | 6.9 (3.6) | 8.1 (3.3) |
| qSOFA score ≥2 | 18 (31.6) | 24 (55.6) |
| Management and outcome | ||
| Referred to hospital | 39 (68.4) | 25 (58.1) |
| Delay in hours, median (IQR) | 1.8 (1.3–10.2) | 1.6 (1.2–10.7) |
| Hospital mortality | 9 (15.8) | 18 (41.9)** |
*P<0.05, **P<0.01.
†GP recorded an infection diagnosis or mentioned an infectious diagnosis in the first three differential diagnoses.
APACHE II, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II; CRP, C reactive protein; GP, general practitioner; qSOFA, quick Sepsis-related organ failure assessment.