Epidemiology of Sepsis in Korea: a Population-based Study of Incidence, Mortality, Cost and Risk Factors for Death in Sepsis

Overview

Journal Clin Exp Emerg Med

Specialty Emergency Medicine

Date 2019 Feb 21

PMID 30781941

Citations 28

Authors

Joonghee Kim

Kyuseok Kim

Heeyoung Lee

Soyeon Ahn

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the epidemiology of sepsis in Korea and identify risk factors for death in sepsis.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal, population-based epidemiological study of sepsis in Korea from 2005 to 2012 using the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort, a population-based cohort representing 2.2% of the Korean population. The primary objective was to assess the incidence, mortality and cost of sepsis. The secondary objective was to identify the risk factors for death in sepsis. Claim records of admitted adult patients (aged ≥15 years) were analyzed. Sepsis was defined as 1) bacterial or fungal infection or the conditions they often complicate, 2) prescription of intravenous antibiotics, and 3) presence of any organ dysfunction. Comorbidities were defined using the Charlson/Deyo method. Risk factors for 6-month mortality were assessed using multivariable logistic regression.

Results: A total of 22,882 cases were identified. Both incidence and 6-month mortality increased from 265.7 (95% confidence interval [CI], 254.7 to 277.1) to 453.1 (95% CI, 439.0 to 467.5) per 100,000 person-years (P-trend <0.001) and from 26.5% (95% CI, 24.4% to 28.8%) to 30.1% (95% CI, 28.4% to 31.9%), respectively. After standardization, the increasing trend of incidence was slower but still significant (P-trend <0.001), while that for mortality was not (P-trend 0.883). The average cost increased by 75.5% (P-trend <0.001). Multivariable logistic regression identified various risk factors for mortality.

Conclusion: The burden of sepsis in Korea was high and is expected to increase considering the aging population. Proactive measures to curtail this increase should be sought and implemented.

Citing Articles

Urinary biomarkers for diagnosing acute kidney injury in sepsis in the emergency department.

Baek S, Park I, Kim S, Um Y, Kim H, Lee K Heliyon. 2025; 11(1):e41252.

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The Usefulness of Carotid Artery Doppler Measurement as a Predictor of Early Death in Sepsis Patients Admitted to the Emergency Department.

Kim S, Jang Y, Ji J, Kim Y, Kang I, Kim S J Clin Med. 2024; 13(22).

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Impact of Point-of-Care Lactate Testing for Sepsis on Bundle Adherence and Clinical Outcomes in the Emergency Department: A Pre-Post Observational Study.

Lee S, Song J, Lee S, Kim S, Han K, Lee S J Clin Med. 2024; 13(18).

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Sex or gender differences in treatment outcomes of sepsis and septic shock.

Min S, Yong H, Kim D Acute Crit Care. 2024; 39(2):207-213.

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Clinical usefulness of NT-proBNP as a prognostic factor for septic shock patients presenting to the emergency department.

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