A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) and New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) warn New Yorkers of all ages about the risks of sepsis, a severe and life-threatening, yet often preventable, condition. While anyone can develop sepsis, older adults are among those at highest risk.
According to Sepsis Alliance, sepsis is the body’s extreme response to an infection. It occurs when an infection you already have triggers a chain reaction throughout your body. Most cases of sepsis start before a patient goes to the hospital. In fact, an estimated 87% of sepsis cases occur in the community.
Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency. Without timely treatment, sepsis can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.
According to NYSDOH, severe sepsis and septic shock impact approximately 73,000 adults and 600 children in New York each year. Nationally, at least 1.7 million adults will develop sepsis. At least 350,000 adults who develop sepsis die during their hospitalization or are discharged to hospice. One in three people who dies in a hospital had sepsis during that hospitalization.
Among other facts provided by Sepsis Alliance:
Every 90 seconds someone in the U.S. dies of sepsis.
Sepsis claims the lives of more children than cancer – 18 children each day.
Sepsis is the primary driver of readmission to a hospital (30-day readmissions).
Please visit NYSOFA's website for more data about sepsis and older adults.
Risk Factors
While anyone can develop sepsis, NYSDOH says those at higher risk include:
Adults 65 years of age or older.
Children younger than one year of age.
People with weakened immune systems.
People with chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, lung disease, cancer, or kidney disease.
People with recent severe illness or hospitalization.
People who have had sepsis before.
How Someone Can identify Sepsis
It is crucial you get medical care right away if you have an infection that is not getting better or is getting worse. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says a person with sepsis might have one or more signs or symptoms:
High heart rate or weak pulse
Confusion or disorientation
Extreme pain or discomfort
Fever, shivering, or feeling very cold
Shortness of breath
Clammy or sweaty skin
Sepsis and New York State
In September 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul proclaimed September as Sepsis Awareness Month in New York State. New York State has long led in sepsis prevention and intervention efforts, including Rory’s Regulations. In response to the tragic death of Rory Staunton, New York State was the first in the nation to establish a statewide mandate requiring all hospitals to adopt sepsis protocols. The protocols were designed to improve rapid identification and treatment of sepsis. Sepsis awareness training is also mandated as part of the Infection Control and Barrier Precautions training required of certain licensed professionals in New York.
Additionally, since 2014, the NYS Sepsis Care Improvement Initiative has worked with hospitals to: improve early detection of severe sepsis and septic shock; initiate timely interventions and treatment; and reduce overall death from sepsis. This effort by NYSDOH and New York State hospitals saved more than 16,000 lives between 2015 and 2019.
NYSOFA and Partners Launch Nationwide Partnership for Sepsis and Aging
Earlier this year, NYSOFA, Sepsis Alliance, the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) and the Association on Aging in New York (AgingNY) launched a new nationwide organization called The Partnership for Sepsis and Aging (TPSA) which is designed to educate the public about the signs and symptoms of sepsis to save lives and mitigate the negative and life-changing outcomes of sepsis.
TPSA is free to join. Individuals or organizations who sign up will be asked to use some of the many free resources available to regularly educate the community on the signs and symptoms of sepsis, regardless of age. Download the TPSA one-pager and visit the TPSA website to sign up.
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