Impact of Sleep Apnea on Sepsis Mortality

This retrospective study aims to compare the mortality of sepsis patients with versus without obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Patients with a diagnosis of sepsis, who had received a prior polysomnography at Taipei Veterans General Hospital during Jan. 1, 2001 to May 31, 2017 will be enrolled. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is defined by an apnea-hypopnea index at least 5/hr with compatible symptoms. Their clinical record will be reviewed and data including demography, polysomnography and details related to sepsis (source of infection, number of organ dysfunction at initial diagnosis of sepsis and survival time) will be collected. The start of the survival time (follow-up time) is the date when sepsis is diagnosed. The end of the survival time (follow-up time) is the date of death or end of hospitalization (date of discharge). Survival analyses will be performed.