Context

The relative incidence and mortality of shock varies greatly depending on the population and the cause.

Worldwide, the greatest number of deaths from shock probably occurs in children under five years old. This is due to hypovolaemia as a result of diarrhoeal illness. [1]

By contrast, the Office of National Statistics (2005) recorded about 25 deaths from diarrhoeal illness in the same age group in the UK in 2005. [2]

Anaphylaxis causes about 20 deaths per year in the UK. [3]

In the United States, sepsis is a significant cause of mortality, with approximately 270,000 deaths annually. [4]

Cardiogenic shock is closely linked to high early death rates, with mortality often exceeding 50%. [5]