iarjcrIARJCRIARJCR2789-6064https://doi.org/10.47310/iarjcr.2025.v05i01.015Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes in Sepsis Patients Admitted to a Tertiary Care ICU: A Cross-Sectional StudyBackground: Sepsis is a critical global health concern characterized by dysregulated host response to infection, leading to high morbidity and mortality. Timely recognition and risk stratification are crucial to improve patient outcomes, especially in resource-limited settings. This study aimed to assess the clinical profile, risk factors and predictive performance of MEWS and LqSOFA  scores among sepsis patients admitted to a tertiary care ICU. Methods: This hospital-based observational cross-sectional study included 130 adult patients with sepsis admitted to the ICU between June 2021 and December 2022. Patients were evaluated using MEWS and LqSOFA  scores at admission. Clinical and laboratory parameters were recorded and outcomes such as ICU admission, need for mechanical ventilation and in-hospital mortality were analyzed. Predictive accuracy of scoring systems was assessed using ROC curves. Results: Most patients were aged 51–60 years 31.5% and male 55.4%. Common infections included UTI 20.8%, pulmonary 18.5% andskin/soft tissue 13.8%. Diabetes 31.5% and hypertension 19.2% were the most prevalent comorbidities. ICU admission was required in 60%, mechanical ventilation in 45.4% and mortality occurred in 33.8%. MEWS showed good accuracy for ICU admission AUC = 0.768, sensitivity = 80%, while LqSOFA  was superior for predicting mechanical ventilation AUC = 0.800 and mortality AUC = 0.720. Conclusion: MEWS and LqSOFA  are valuable tools with complementary roles in sepsis prognostication. MEWS better predicts ICU needs, while LqSOFA  is more effective for predicting ventilation and mortality. Early application of these scores may support timely interventions and improve outcomes.