Sepsis, a condition where the body does not respond well to an infection, is one of the most common causes of death in the United Kingdom (UK), resulting in around 48,000 deaths every year. There are many factors that increase the risk of dying from sepsis including older age, being from a low income background or having health conditions such as a weakened immune system, kidney and liver problems, heart failure, and diabetes.
Research from the United States (US) has found differences in sepsis outcomes based on race, with one study showing that people of Black heritage are more likely to die from septic shock (a severe form of sepsis) than White people. There is little evidence from the UK as to whether clinical outcomes from sepsis differ among ethnic groups. In light of this, we plan to answer the following question: is there an association between ethnicity and healthcare outcomes among adult patients admitted to hospital with sepsis in Oxfordshire?
To address this question, we will look at data from patients admitted to Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with sepsis to find out whether there is a link between ethnicity and healthcare outcomes from sepsis. We hope that the results of this project will provide insight into whether there are significant differences in sepsis mortality among ethnic minority groups, while also trying to understand the factors that may drive these differences.