Figure 1. Graphical description of the study cohort The diagnosis was identified solely by year and month, as recorded in the administrative claims data. Consequently, patients with sepsis were included if the diagnosis was registered at the time of ICU admission. Comorbidities were extracted if they were registered within the same month as or before the sepsis diagnosis. The inclusion criteria for age, vasopressor use, and antibiotic use were met by the date of ICU admission. The term “ICU admission for sepsis with surgery” was defined as any surgical procedure performed on or within 7 days before ICU admission. ICU: intensive care unit.
Figure 2. Flowchart of patient identification and selection Patients were excluded if (1) they were insurance beneficiaries with a disability (age ≥65 to <75 years), which could have prevented a fair evaluation, or had lost insurance qualification for reasons other than death, such as relocation, thereby preventing follow-up; (2) their ICU stay was too short for the quality of care to be adequately assessed; and (3) they had missing data. ICU: intensive care unit.
