Incidence and Outcomes of Sepsis in Korea: A Nationwide Cohort Study From 2007 to 2016

• Published in: Critical care medicine Vol. 47; no. 12; pp. e993 - e998
• Main Authors: Oh, Seung-Young, Cho, Songhee, Kim, Ga Hee, Jang, Eun Jin, Choi, Seongmi, Lee, Hannah, Ryu, Ho Geol
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States by the Society of Critical Care Medicine and Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc 01-12-2019; Copyright by by the Society of Critical Care Medicine and Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cohort Studies; Female; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Incidence; Intensive Care Units; Length of Stay; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Admission; Republic of Korea; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sepsis - epidemiology; Time Factors; Young Adult; Republic of Korea
• ISSN: 0090-3493; 1530-0293
• DOI: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000004041

OBJECTIVES:This study aimed to estimate the incidence and clinical outcomes of sepsis in Korea from 2007 to 2016.
DESIGN:Retrospective observational study.
SETTING:Nationwide study with population-based healthcare reimbursement claims database.
PATIENTS:Using data from the National Health Insurance Service of Korea, patients who were hospitalized with a diagnosis of sepsis from 2007 to 2016 were analyzed. The incidence of sepsis was calculated using mid-year census population and analyzed according to year, age, and sex. The Elixhauser Comorbidity Index score was calculated to adjust for the impact of comorbidities on clinical outcome. In-hospital mortality, hospital length of stay, ICU admission rates, and risk factors for in-hospital mortality were also analyzed.
INTERVENTIONS:None.
MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:The incidence of sepsis increased from 173.8 per 100,000 population in 2007 to 233.6 per 100,000 population in 2016. In-hospital mortality decreased from 30.9% in 2007 to 22.6% in 2016 (p < 0.0001). From 2007 to 2016, hospital length of stay and ICU admission rates associated with sepsis decreased from 26.0 ± 33.5 days to 21.3 ± 24.4 days (p < 0.0001) and from 16.2% to 12.7% (p < 0.0001), respectively. Male sex, age greater than 50 years, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index greater than 10, and mechanical ventilation were identified as risk factors for in-hospital mortality after adjusting for baseline characteristics.
CONCLUSIONS:The incidence of sepsis in Korea increased from 2007 to 2016, while the associated in-hospital mortality, hospital length of stay, and ICU admission rates decreased.