Even though sepsis is the most costly hospital condition in the United States, a recent survey shows just 44 percent of Americans have heard of it.
The Harris Poll survey, conducted on behalf of Sepsis Alliance, found women (47 percent) were more likely than men (40 percent) to have heard of sepsis, and those 35 years old or older (48 percent) were more aware than those younger than 35 (35 percent). The survey includes responses from 2,100 U.S. adults.
For those who had heard of sepsis, most (25 percent) said they learned about it from news and entertainment, while 15 percent heard about it from medical professionals.
There was no increase in sepsis awareness from 2013 to 2014, according to Sepsis Alliance.
September is Sepsis Awareness Month, and World Sepsis Day is Sept. 13. "These survey results prove there is still a lot of work that needs to be done," said Thomas Heymann, executive director of Sepsis Alliance. "Increasing awareness in the general public is essential in helping people advocate for their own healthcare, stopping this deadly disease in its tracks."