Why do you think your paper is highly cited?

Sepsis represents a substantial healthcare burden, and there is limited epidemiologic information about the demography of sepsis or about the temporal changes in its incidence and outcome. We investigated the national epidemiology of sepsis in the United States, with specific examination of race and sex, causative organisms, the disposition of patients, and the incidence and outcome. This paper is highly cited because it is the primary epidemiological study of sepsis covering the entire US, with particular attention to longitudinal changes and novel reporting of disparities based upon race and gender.

 Would you summarize the significance of your paper in layman's terms?

Sepsis, the body's life-threatening response to infection, is increasing in incidence each year in the US, and the incidence is twice as high in non-white races and 30% higher in men than women.

 How did you become involved in this research and were any particular problems encountered along the way?

This project grew out of an interest in gaining a greater understanding of sepsis and as a collaboration with colleagues at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, GA.

 Where do you see your research leading in the future?

We hope to further examine the causes for racial and gender disparities, with the intent of developing interventions to ameliorate those disparities, and to determine the underlying reasons for changes in incidence.

 Do you foresee any social or political implications for your research?

There are clear implications for our research, specifically in terms of healthcare resource utilization—increasing incidence of an expensive and often fatal disease—and the existence of disparities based upon race and gender.

Greg S. Martin, M.D., M.Sc.
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Associate Division Director for Critical Care
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care
Emory University School of Medicine
and
Section Chief, Pulmonary and Critical Care
Director, Medical and Coronary Intensive Care
Grady Memorial Hospital
Atlanta, GA, USA
Web

KEYWORDS: INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE SYNDROME; RESPIRATORY-DISTRESS-SYNDROME; GRAM-NEGATIVE SEPSIS; RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL; SEPTIC SHOCK; ICU PATIENTS; NATURAL-HISTORY; SYNDROME ARDS; MORTALITY; SIRS.