Long-term outcomes from sepsis.

Long-term mortality following severe sepsis is high, and fewer than half of patients who experience severe sepsis are alive at 1 year. Mechanisms underlying increased long-term mortality remain poorly understood. Animal and human studies suggest that abnormalities of the innate immune system may contribute to increased long-term mortality. This review article examines the epidemiology and potential mechanisms underlying long-term outcomes from sepsis and challenges to conducting long-term outcome studies in the critically ill.