Affiliation:
1. George Institute for Global Health and University of New South Wales
2. Nepean Blue Mountains LHD
3. Royal North Shore Hospital
Abstract
Abstract
Objective
To report trends in Australian hospitalisations coded for sepsis and their associated costs.
Design:
Retrospective analysis of Australian national hospitalisation data from 2002 to 2021.
Methods
Sepsis-coded hospitalisations were identified using the Global Burden of Disease study sepsis-specific ICD-10 codes modified for Australia. Costs were calculated using Australian-Refined Diagnosis Related Group codes and National Hospital Cost Data Collection.
Results
Sepsis-coded hospitalisations increased from 36,628 in 2002-03 to 131,826 in 2020-21, an annual rate of 7.8%. Principal admission diagnosis codes contributed 13,843 (37.8%) in 2002-03 and 44,186 (33.5%) in 2020-21; secondary diagnosis codes contributed 22,785 (62.2%) in 2002-03 and 87,640 (66.5%) in 2020-21. Unspecified sepsis was the most common sepsis code, increasing from 15,178 hospitalisations in 2002-03 to 68,910 in 2020-21. The population-based incidence of sepsis-coded hospitalisations increased from 18.6 per 10,000 population (2002-03) to 51.3 per 10,000 (2021-21); representing an increase from 55.1 per 10,000 hospitalisations in 2002-03 to 111.4 in 2020-21. Sepsis-coded hospitalisations occurred more commonly in the elderly; those aged 65 years or above accounting for 20,573 (55.6%) sepsis-coded hospitalisations in 2002-03 and 86,135 (65.3%) in 2020-21. The cost of sepsis-coded hospitalisations increased at an annual rate of 20.6%, from AUD199M (€127M) in financial year 2012 to AUD711M (€455M) in 2019.
Conclusion
Hospitalisations coded for sepsis and associated costs increased significantly from 2002 to 2021 and from 2012 to 2019, respectively.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC