Incidence, Outcomes, and Risk Factors for Mortality in Patients With Sepsis in South Korea: A Nationwide Cohort Study
Authors' conclusion
In this nationwide claims-based study, recorded sepsis incidence increased and in-hospital mortality declined over time, although these trends warrant cautious interpretation given potential shifts in case identification practices. Socioeconomic disparities in mortality persisted throughout the study period.
Study context
- Population
- Adults ≥18 y hospitalised for sepsis (ICD-10 codes), South Korea, 2011–2022
- Participants
- 1,149,379 sepsis cases
- Outcome
- Sepsis incidence and in-hospital mortality trends
- Follow-up
- 2011 to 2022
Methodological detailsnationwide, claims-based (National Health Insurance Service database)
- Nationwide
- Claims-based (National Health Insurance Service database)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Incidence rate ratio (95% CI)P value
Crude incidence
1.09(1.08–1.09)
P < 0.001Age-standardized incidence
1.04(1.04–1.04)
P < 0.001- Crude incidence of sepsis, 2011 to 2022 (per 100,000 person-years)
- 141.8 to 337.3
- Age-standardized incidence increase
- 53.1%
- In-hospital mortality, 2011 to 2022
- 27.0% to 17.0%
- In-hospital mortality trend (β, p < 0.001; R2 = 0.91)
- −1.1%
- Total number of deaths, 2011 to 2022
- 15,605 to 25,326
- Total deaths trend (β, p < 0.001; R2 = 0.98)
- 779
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Risk factors for in-hospital mortality (multivariable logistic regression)
- Older age, male sex, higher comorbidity burden and greater disease severity were independent risk factors for mortality
- Medical aid beneficiaries and rural residents had higher mortality; treatment at tertiary hospitals associated with improved outcomes
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Incidence, Outcomes, and Risk Factors for Mortality in Patients With Sepsis in South Korea: A Nationwide Cohort Study. Crit Care Med. Published 17 August 2026. doi:10.
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