Changes in Global Sepsis Incidence and Mortality

SUMMARY:

  • Recent evidence demonstrates a surge in sepsis incidence and death globally.

  • Several factors may be contributing to this rise.

  • There are age and geographical variances in sepsis cases and death.

REVIEW:

  • Source: Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study of 2021 
    • Trends in the incidence of sepsis and mortality by age group and country from 1991 to 2021
    • Evaluation of 249 million hospital admissions
    • Data reported on:
      • Sepsis incidence – overall and per 100,000 population
      • Sepsis mortality – overall and per 100,000 population
  • Data reported for 1990; 2019 and 2021.
  • Evaluations of sepsis included by:
    • Age
    • Geographic location
    • Infectious causes
    • Non-infectious causes
  • Between 1990 and 2021, sepsis rates have increased globally
  •  
  • The areas with the highest incidence of sepsis are:
    • Sub-Saharan Africa
    • Latin America
    • Caribbean
  • The areas with the highest sepsis mortality are:
    • Sub-Saharan Africa
    • Central Europe
    • Eastern Europe
    • Central Asia
  • Diseases associated with non-infectious sepsis deaths were:
    • Stroke
    • COPD
    • Type 2 Diabetes
    • Ischemic heart disease
    • Colorectal cancer
  • Age groups observed changes in the incidence and mortality rates of sepsis.
    • Children less than 5 years of age showed decreased incidence and mortality rates.
    • Children 5 – 14 years of age showed modest but plateaued changes.
    • Adults 15 years and older were the group with increasing incidence and mortality rates of sepsis.
    • Adults 50 years and older demonstrated the greatest increases in sepsis.
  • Possible explanations for the rise in sepsis cases and mortality:
    • Growing problem of antimicrobial resistance
    • An aging population
    • Multiple chronic diseases (over 70% of patients have 2 or more chronic diseases)
    • The rise may be the late impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS:

  • The incidence of sepsis and its associated mortality rates are rising globally.
  • Neonate and younger children’s rates are improving, whereas older adult rates are increasing
  • This may reflect a post-COVID-19 rise.

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Erkan Hassan is the Co-Founder & Chief Clinical Officer of Sepsis Program Optimization where he designs & oversees the implementation of solutions to optimize sepsis programs.

To discuss your organization’s Barriers of Effective Sepsis Care, contact Erkan by phone (844) 4SEPSIS (844-473-7747), email (erkan@spo.icu), or video chat.