SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Disparities Among Chief Complaints and Diagnoses Between Black and White Sepsis Patients in the Icu

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This study examined whether Black and White ICU patients with sepsis differed in how their symptoms and diagnoses were documented in the MIMIC-III database (2001–2012). Researchers reviewed first history and physical notes for patients with ICD-9 codes for sepsis, severe sepsis, or septicemia, focusing on chief complaints and assessment/problem lists. They compared the top 10 complaints and problems by race and also assessed basic clinical variables such as age, sex, vital signs, and oxygen saturation.<br /><br />The findings showed that the overall top chief complaints were similar between Black and White patients, with sepsis appearing among the most common complaints in both groups. However, some less objective complaints were documented more often in Black patients, including altered mental status, lethargy, and confusion. These differences were statistically significant. In contrast, sepsis was documented as a problem in the assessment/plan less often among Black patients than White patients (11.8% vs 14.3%). Black patients also had slightly higher systolic blood pressure and faster heart rates, while other measured variables did not differ meaningfully by race.<br /><br />The authors conclude that racial differences may exist not only in how sepsis presents early, but also in how providers interpret and document symptoms, especially less quantifiable ones like mental status changes. Such differences could contribute to delays in care and help explain racial disparities in sepsis outcomes. Limitations included reliance on ICU-only data and limited ICD-9 documentation. The authors recommend future studies using clinical note content and context, such as emergency department versus ICU documentation and physician versus nursing notes, to better understand these disparities.

Asset Subtitle

Helen Liu

Meta Tag

Author List Helen Liu, Jashvant Poeran, Tuyet-Trinh Truong

Category Research

Concept Sepsis

Concept Black Patients

Concept White Patients

Concept Chief Complaint

Concept Altered Mental Status

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Presenting Author Helen Liu

Track Outcomes Research

Keywords

sepsis

Black patients

White patients

ICU documentation

MIMIC-III

racial disparities

chief complaints

altered mental status

assessment plan

clinical notes

Sepsis

Black Patients

White Patients

Chief Complaint

Altered Mental Status