Severe Sepsis – Clinical Manifestations and Pharmaco-Economic Analysis in an Intensive Care Unit in Latvia

Sepsis is widespread among hospitalised patients worldwide. In fact, severe sepsis and septic shock is a major cause of patient admission and mortality in intensive care units and the difficulty in diagnosing the initial stage of the disease is a major obstacle to the reduction of mortality from sepsis. Retrospective analysis of medical records of 72 patients was carried out within the framework of the study. The study included patients of both sexes and all ages, who were hospitalised at the stationary “Gaiļezers” of the Rīga East Clinical University Hospital from 2011 to 2014. The study aim was to determine the clinical course of treated septic patients and conduct a pharmaco-economic analysis. In the course of the disease, almost half of the patients - 34 (48.6%) showed development of septic shock. Mortality in these patients exceeded a half (60.0%; 21 patients). Artificial lung ventilation during hospitalisation was received by 43 (59.7%) of patients. Artificial lung ventilation had been required in a significantly larger number of cases in the dead patient group (75%, p = 0.01). The average costs per one patient day (including bed-day price and manipulation costs) was 383 euros. Septic shock was associated with high mortality. Severe sepsis is an expensive diagnosis, as the average cost of one patient exceeds costs of other departments by 4.5 times.