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Sex Differences in Risk Factors for Incident Sepsis Hospitalizations: A Prospective Cohort Study Using the UK Biobank
Gary Kim Kuan Low, Katie Harris, Mark Woodward, Kelly Thompson. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2025-03-06
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Of 490 783 participants, 21 468 (47.6% women) experienced an incident sepsis hospitalization. Age-standardized risk was higher in men than in women (40.2 vs 31.2 per 10 000 person-years; HR, 1.26 [95% CI, 1.23-1.29]). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) conferred the highest risk for sepsis hospitalization, with excess risk in women (RHR, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.10-1.38]). Dyslipidemia (RHR, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.02-1.16]), myocardial infarction (1.22 [1.05-1.41]), and smoking (1.19 [1.09-1.29]) were associated with excess risk of sepsis hospitalization in women, compared with men. Dementia was associated with more than twice the risk of sepsis hospitalization in men (HR, 2.21 [95% CI, 1.37-3.55]). The risk of sepsis hospitalization was higher in the presence of most risk factors, with greater effects in women with a history of COPD, dyslipidemia, myocardial infarction, and smoking. Incorporating sex-specific risk factors in risk prediction modeling may facilitate targeted prevention efforts and support earlier recognition and treatment.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Low, G. K. K., Harris, K., Woodward, M., & Thompson, K. (2025). Sex Differences in Risk Factors for Incident Sepsis Hospitalizations: A Prospective Cohort Study Using the UK Biobank. The Journal of Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiaf122
Vancouver
Low GKK, Harris K, Woodward M, Thompson K. Sex Differences in Risk Factors for Incident Sepsis Hospitalizations: A Prospective Cohort Study Using the UK Biobank. The Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2025. doi:10.1093/infdis/jiaf122. PMID: 40048641.
BibTeX
@article{low2025-40048641,
author = {Low, Gary Kim Kuan and Harris, Katie and Woodward, Mark and Thompson, Kelly},
title = {{Sex Differences in Risk Factors for Incident Sepsis Hospitalizations: A Prospective Cohort Study Using the UK Biobank}},
journal = {The Journal of Infectious Diseases},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1093/infdis/jiaf122},
pmid = {40048641},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiaf122}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Of 490 783 participants, 21 468 (47.6% women) experienced an incident sepsis hospitalization.
- Age-standardized risk was higher in men than in women (40.2 vs 31.2 per 10 000 person-years; HR, 1.26 [95% CI, 1.23-1.29]).
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) conferred the highest risk for sepsis hospitalization, with excess risk in women (RHR, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.10-1.38]).
- Dyslipidemia (RHR, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.02-1.16]), myocardial infarction (1.22 [1.05-1.41]), and smoking (1.19 [1.09-1.29]) were associated with excess risk of sepsis hospitalization in women, compared with men.
- Dementia was associated with more than twice the risk of sepsis hospitalization in men (HR, 2.21 [95% CI, 1.37-3.55]).
Why it matters
This study is about risk factors for sepsis hospitalisation, not about treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease. Its only dementia-related finding is that dementia was associated with more than twice the risk of sepsis hospitalisation in men.
Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Participants783
- Effect size47.6%
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 52/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The Journal of Infectious Diseases) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | The Journal of Infectious Diseases: journal h-index 370 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 783 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Kelly Thompson: h-index 24 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Imperial College London: institution h-index 1,744 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 7 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40048641) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 52 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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