Impact of physical, psychological, and social frailty on quality of life by sex in adults aged 65 and older: a secondary analysis of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (2018~2022).

Sepsis is defined as a life-threatening clinical condition marked by multiple organ dysfunction, caused by the host’s impaired response to infection []. It represents a notable healthcare burden due to its high morbidity and mortality rates []. Early recognition and prompt therapeutic intervention are crucial factors that identify prognosis in sepsis, as delays in treatment increase mortality risk []. The mortality rate of patients with sepsis or septic shock is approximately 20%~40% [], and each hour of delay in antibiotic administration increases the mortality rate by up to 1.8% []. Therefore, early and accurate identification of high-risk patients and prompt treatment initiation from the initial presentation are highly recommended. However, the early assessment of sepsis remains challenging due to its diverse infection routes, broad disease spectrum, frequently non-specific clinical presentations, and often incomplete medical histories []. Because no single indicator can define sepsis, various clinical signs, laboratory results, and screening tools are used for early diagnosis and prediction [,]. Approaches based on manual surveillance or electronic medical records (EMRs) may lack sensitivity and specificity, and their performance can vary depending on the clinical setting [,]. Blood cultures are the standard diagnostic test for detecting bloodstream infections; however, their low sensitivity and long turnaround time limit their usefulness for early diagnosis [].