Disparities in Sepsis Mortality by Region, Urbanization, and Race in the USA: a Multiple Cause of Death Analysis

Abstract

Purpose: To assess gender, race/ethnicity, and geographic disparities in sepsis-associated mortality. Materials and Methods: The US data for multiple causes of death (MCOD) for years 2013–2016 were used to determine numbers of deaths and age-adjusted rates for sepsis as underlying or contributing cause of death using the International Classification of Diseases–10 (ICD-10) codes for non-Hispanic blacks (NHB) and whites (NHW) aged 15 years and older. Results: There were a total of 746,725 sepsis-associated deaths. Among females, age-adjusted death rate for NHB was 88.6 (95% CI 87.8–89.3) and for NHW, 55.4 (95% CI 55.1–55.6). Among males, age-adjusted death rate for NHB was 115.2 (95% CI 114.1–116.3) and for NHW, 69.5 (95% CI 69.2–69.8). Rates were generally higher in divisions of the south region (West South Central in NHB). Within the South, NHW and NHB who resided in non-metropolitan areas had the highest rates, while the lowest were in suburban metropolitan areas. Conclusions: Sepsis-related MCOD mortality rates were highest in males, in NHB, in the South region, and, within the South, non-metropolitan areas.