Does severe non-infectious SIRS differ from severe sepsis? Results from a multi-centre Australian and New Zealand intensive care unit study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the time course of organ dysfunction/failure, mortality and cause of death in patients with severe sepsis (SS) and patients with severe non-infectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SNISIRS).


METHODS
Secondary analysis of a multi-centre inception cohort study.


METHODS
Twenty-three multidisciplinary intensive care units (ICUs) in Australia and New Zealand.


METHODS
3,543 ICU admissions > or = 48 h or <48 h if SIRS and organ dysfunction present.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
ICU prevalence of SS and SNISIRS was 20% (707/3,543) and 28% (980/3,543), respectively. ICU mortality was similar in patients with SNISIRS and with SS (25 vs. 27%, P = 0.40). Central nervous system (CNS) failure occurred more frequently in patients with SNISIRS (33 vs. 22%, P < 0.001) and resulted in death more commonly than in SS (relative risk = 1.6, 95% confidence interval 1.4-1.7, P < 0.001). The time to peak organ dysfunction (0.67 vs. 0.91 days, P = 0.004), overall episode length (3.6 vs. 5.6 days, P < 0.001) and ICU stay (geometric mean: 4.1 vs. 5.8 days, P < 0.001) were significantly shorter in patients with SNISIRS.


CONCLUSIONS
Whilst SNISIRS and SS have similarities, including their crude mortality rate, important differences exist. SNISIRS is more common on admission to the ICU, and is more commonly coupled with CNS dysfunction and death from neurological failure.


BACKGROUND
SIRS/sepsis: clinical studies.
Dulhunty
Joel M
JM
Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, and Burns, Trauma and Critical Care Research Centre, University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, 4029, Australia. Joel_Dulhunty@health.qld.gov.au
Lipman
Jeffrey
J
Finfer
Simon
S
D018806:APACHE; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*