Long-term cognitive impairment and functional disability among survivors of severe sepsis

Long-term cognitive impairment and functional disability among survivors of severe sepsis. JAMA vol. 314(16), 2010; p. 1787-1794.

Iwashyna, T.J., et al.

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/304/16/1787?etoc

Cognitive impairment and functional disability are major determinants of caregiving needs and societal health care costs. Although the incidence of severe sepsis is high and increasing, the magnitude of patients' long-term cognitive and functional limitations after sepsis is unknown. Severe sepsis in this older population was independently associated with substantial and persistent new cognitive impairment and functional disability among survivors. The magnitude of these new deficits was large, likely resulting in a pivotal downturn in patients' ability to live independently.