Epidemiology of Sepsis in Brazil: Analysis of Hospitalizations and Deaths From 2015 to 2024 With Emphasis on Age, Sex, and Region
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction Sepsis is among the leading causes of hospital mortality in Brazil and represents a potentially fatal organ dysfunction resulting from a dysregulated host response to infection. In the country, sepsis significantly impacts intensive care units and emergency services, commonly associated with respiratory, urinary, abdominal, and skin infections. Given the high morbidity and mortality, along with rising bacterial resistance, understanding the epidemiology of sepsis in the Brazilian context is critical. This study provides a descriptive analysis of sepsis-related hospitalizations and deaths in Brazil from 2015 to 2024, exploring associated epidemiological variables. Methods Cross-sectional, descriptive, quantitative study using data from the SUS Hospital Morbidity System. Variables analyzed included sex, age, year, and geographic region in relation to sepsis-related hospitalizations and deaths from 2015–2024. Sepsis data were compared to other infectious causes of hospitalization and mortality. Results Sepsis was the leading cause of infectious-disease deaths (618,514) and the fifth most common cause of infectious hospitalizations (1,367,279) in Brazil from 2015–2024. Hospitalizations increased by 68.94% and deaths by 65.48% during the period. Admissions rose from 110,064 (2015) to 185,917 (2024). Case-fatality remained stable at around 45%, although absolute deaths increased by 32,623 (from 49,854 in 2015 to 82,477 in 2024). The Southeast accounted for 50.65% of hospitalizations; the Center-West for 5.01%. Men comprised 52.13% of admissions. Mortality rose with age: 10.12% in children <1 year versus 64.06% in adults >80 years. Infants <1 year and adults >50 years accounted for 79.39% of admissions. A 14.03% drop occurred between 2019–2020, followed by a marked rise in 2022 (30.9%). Conclusion Sepsis-related hospitalizations and deaths increased significantly in absolute numbers, while the percentage of admissions progressing to death remained stable. The decline in 2019–2020 may be associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Age was the most important predictor of mortality, highlighting the need for focused care for infants and older adults.
Institution: Universidade Regional de Blumenau
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,600
OpenAlex ID: W7135400285
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