The physical and mental impact of surviving sepsis – a qualitative study of experiences and perceptions among a Swedish sample

Abstract

Background Sepsis is a critical illness with high morbidity and mortality rates. Each year, sepsis affects about 48.9 million people all over the world. This study aims to illuminate how sepsis survivors experience sepsis and the impact of sepsis, as well as the health-related quality of life thereafter. Methods An interview study with eight sepsis survivors was carried out in Sweden with an inductive qualitative method. The data were analyzed with content analysis. Results Four themes were identified during the analysis; The experience of health care and being a sepsis patient, New circumstances´ impact on life, Family and social interactions, and The psychological impact on life. The lack of information about how sepsis can impact the survivors’ lives and what to expect can lead to prolonged agony. The long recovery time comes as an unexpected and unpleasant surprise to those affected. Initially, the sepsis survivors are almost euphoric that they have survived, which can later lead to chock and trauma when they realize that they could have died. This insight needs to be processed in order to reach reconciliation with life after sepsis. Conclusion Sepsis has a huge impact on both physical and mental aspects of life. Many survivors suffer from persistent residual symptoms of varying degrees, to which they have to adapt. The sepsis survivors need individually adjusted information about the sepsis recovery trajectory, and what to expect during and after the hospital stay.

Physical and Psychosocial Well-Being of Hospitalized and Non-Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19 Compared to the General Population in Qatar

“…In addition, going through the experience of a potentially severe illness and recovering from it can make people cherish the good aspects of their life, resulting in a positively biased perception of their HRQoL. Such an initial “euphoria” has been reported in patients who survived critical medical conditions ( 41 ) and in Ebola survivors ( 42 ). In a study examining the psychological experience of COVID-19 patients during a hospital stay, most patients endorsed how the thought that their lives could have suddenly ended made them realize how valuable their life, their families, and their friends are.…”

Selenium Deficiency in COVID-19—A Possible Long-Lasting Toxic Relationship

“…Of note, all three conditions, i.e., COVID-19, sepsis and pregnancy, are associated with long-term sequelae and slow full recovery. It can take years to overcome sepsis [66], and similarly, pregnancy can directly cause permanent autoimmune disease [67,68] as well as chronic postpartum depression [69,70]. The supportive effects of supplemental administration of Se on mortality, progression, and recovery from sepsis are currently unclear [71], but positive studies have been reported [10].…”

Sepsis survivors and caregivers perspectives on post–acute rehabilitation and aftercare in the first year after sepsis in Germany

“…The deficits perceived by survivors are in accordance with an international survey among 1731 sepsis survivors, in which respondents reported their dissatisfaction with the provision of support services in their sepsis and post-sepsis care, particularly with the lack of psychological counseling, education related to post-sepsis symptoms and social services support (6). Similarly, a qualitative study among sepsis survivors and their caregivers in the UK and the US found that the lack of awareness of post-sepsis symptoms and barriers in the access of health care providers and ancillary services after discharge are major challenges perceived (20). These deficits may arise from lacking awareness of the needs of sepsis survivors (20) and the fact that comprehensive post-acute structures are missing, including education, assessment, and rehabilitation facilities.…”

“…Similarly, a qualitative study among sepsis survivors and their caregivers in the UK and the US found that the lack of awareness of post-sepsis symptoms and barriers in the access of health care providers and ancillary services after discharge are major challenges perceived (20). These deficits may arise from lacking awareness of the needs of sepsis survivors (20) and the fact that comprehensive post-acute structures are missing, including education, assessment, and rehabilitation facilities. To date, evidence on effective sepsis-specific aftercare is still scarce and isolated strategies examined in previous research, such as post-intensive care ambulances or case-management approaches, did not prove effective to improve psychological impairments or health-related quality of life in sepsis survivors (27,28).…”