AHRQ report reveals sepsis burden on hospitals during pandemic

Sepsis-related inpatient stays at U.S. hospitals rose from 1.8 million in 2016 to 2.5 million in 2021, with a faster rate of increase once COVID-19 emerged in 2020, according to an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality report submitted to Congress. The pandemic led to more sepsis-related hospitalizations, hospital costs and in-hospital mortality, especially for patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis. AHRQ calls for additional research on sepsis’ burden in acute, post-acute and ambulatory settings to understand better its root causes and long-term impacts for patients and health care providers. Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Bob Casey, D-Pa., recently introduced American Hospital Association-supported legislation (S. 5026) to task the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to build on its sepsis-care efforts. (AHRQ news release, 9/16/24)