ontario's billion dollar problem with sepsis

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sepsis occurs when the body has an intense, inflammatory response to an infection, usually caused by bacteria.

by monika warzecha

published feb 23, 2021

last updated feb 21, 2025

2 minute read

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ontario's billion dollar problem: severe sepsis

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infections that lead to sepsis are costing ontarians their health and even their lives. and the strain on the province’s healthcare system comes with a yearly price tag of $1 billion, according to new research.

sepsis occurs when a person’s body has an intense, inflammatory response to an infection, usually caused by bacteria or other germs. if left untreated, it can lead to organ dysfunction or even death. researchers from the ottawa hospital, the university of ottawa, and ices recently published a study in critical care medicine looking at the “true healthcare costs of sepsis.”

studying ontario hospital data from 2012 to 2016, the team compared 200,000 sepsis patients — a third of whom had a severe form with organ dysfunction — with similar patients without sepsis. they then tracked the health of the patients for an average of two years. according to the study, patients with severe symptoms had a 66 per cent higher death rate; they also had longer hospital stays and were at greater risk of being in-and-out of hospitals.

“sepsis puts an immense burden on patients, and the effects can last months or years,” said dr. kednapa thavorn, lead author of the study and senior scientist at the ottawa hospital, assistant professor at the university of ottawa and adjunct scientist at ices.

all that need for extra care translates to higher costs as well. based on 2018 canadian dollars, the researchers said that the costs associated with sepsis in the year after the patient is admitted to hospital were $9,475 more than for a non-sepsis patient. for patients with severe sepsis, it was $29,238.

in a news release, dr. alison fox-robichaud, scientific director at sepsis canada, said the study highlights the need for “improved early identification of patients of risk of sepsis and strategies to monitor and treat those who survive sepsis to reduce the significant health and economic burden.”

sepsis has made headlines over the past year after canadian researchers discovered it’s the second leading cause of death among covid-19 patients. in january, actress tanya roberts died at the age of 65 following a urinary tract infection. reports suggested the infection ultimately spread to her organs.

sepsis remains a serious problem globally, with the world health organzation estimating 11 million sepsis-related deaths in 2018 alone, making up nearly 20 per cent of all deaths around the world. symptoms of sepsis include chills, rapid heartbeat, rash and confusion. estimates suggest canada sees 75,000 cases each year and 18,000 deaths. last year, the federal government announced $5.7 million in funding for a national research network to study the life-threatening condition.