Table 1 Comparison of patient characteristics among those with sepsis based on intravenous fluids received vs not received within the first 24 h in the emergency department (N = 4146)

Age, median (IQR) years

4146

74 (61 to 83)

73 (58 to 83)

75 (63 to 84)

 < 0.001

Men N (%)

4146

2227 (54)

1227 (53)

1000 (54)

0.600

Weight, median (IQR), kg

2648

74 (61 to 90)

72 (60 to 89)

75 (63 to 92)

 < 0.001

Charlson Comorbidity Score Mean (SD)

3941

0.67 (1.29)

0.60 (1.19)

0.76 (1.40)

0.005

Triage Category N (%)

4146

 1

252 (6)

172 (7)

80 (4)

 < 0.001

 2

2030 (49)

1205 (52)

825 (45)

 < 0.001

 3–5

1864 (45)

923 (40)

941 (51)

 < 0.001

Presentation Hour N (%)

4146

 0700-1500 h

2091 (50)

1129 (49)

962 (52)

1.000

 1500-2300 h

1536 (37)

891 (39)

645 (35)

0.753

 2300-0700 h

519 (13)

280 (12)

239 (13)

 < 0.001

Modified Sofa Score (mSOFA), Median (IQR)

4146

3.0 (2.0 to 4.0)

3.0 (2.0 to 4.0)

2.0 (2.0 to 4.0)

 < 0.001

Lactate, Median (IQR), mmol/L

3255

1.7 (1.2 to 2.4)

1.8 (1.3 to 2.7)

1.5 (1.1 to 2.1)

 < 0.001

Lowest SBP, Median (IQR), mmHg

4135

107 (97 to 122)

105 (92 to 116)

114 (103 to 127)

 < 0.001

Septic Shock N (%)

4090

 Yes

258 (6)

228 (10)

30 (2)

 < 0.001

 No

3832 (94)

2035 (90)

1797 (98)

 < 0.001

Clinical Rapid Response Alert Activated N (%)

4146

 0

3491 (84)

1805 (78)

1686 (91)

 < 0.001

 1

524 (13)

393 (17)

131 (7)

 < 0.001

 2

115 (3)

89 (4)

26 (1)

 < 0.001

 3

16 (0)

13 (1)

3 (0)

 < 0.001

On Immunosuppressants N (%)

4146

 Yes

28 (1)

10 (0)

18 (1)

 < 0.001

 No

4118 (99)

2290 (100)

1828 (99)

 < 0.001

On Steroids N (%)

4146

 Yes

68 (2)

34 (1)

34 (2)

0.360

 No

4078 (98)

2266 (99)

1812 (98)

0.281

Antibiotic administration time, Median (IQR), hours

4146

4.25 (2.3 to 8.7)

2.3 (0.7 to 5.2)

3.5 (1.6 to 7.3)

 < 0.001

Hospital Site N (%)

4146

 Larger Hospitals

2871 (69)

1527 (66)

1344 (73)

 < 0.001

 Smaller Hospitals

1275 (31)

773 (34)

502 (27)

 < 0.001