Lower socioeconomic factors are associated with higher mortality in patients with septic shock.

BACKGROUND Previous studies have explored the relationship between socioeconomic status and sepsis outcomes OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this investigation is to determine if race, ethnicity, economic stability, neighborhood environment, and access to health care are predictive of mortality in patients with septic shock. METHODS Retrospective study of septic shock patients admitted to two medical centers. RESULTS Caucasian patients had higher proportion of outpatient physician visits in the year prior to admission and were less likely to be Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries. Thirty-day mortality was lower for the Caucasian cohort (39.3% vs. 48.7%, p < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression found several predictors of 30-day mortality including Minority race/ethnicity (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.12-1.86), unemployment (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.09-1.81), and neighborhood poverty rate ≥10% (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.01-2.01). CONCLUSIONS Minority patients, unemployed patients, and those living in neighborhoods with poverty rates greater than 10% suffered from higher 30-day mortality when admitted for septic shock.