Singh JA, Cleveland JD, et al. - This study’s findings demonstrate that serious infection hospitalization rates are increasing in patients with vasculitis except among those with pneumonia. Between 2015 and 2016, sepsis was found to be the most common serious infection. The results showed that several patient and hospital factors are correlated with health care utilization and mortality in serious infection hospitalization in vasculitis.

• In patients with vasculitis, 111,345 serious infections were reported (14% of all vasculitis hospitalizations).

• The mean age was 67.3 years among the patients, the Deyo-Charlson comorbidity index score was ≥2 in 54%, 37% were male, and 67% were White.

• In patients with vasculitis, the serious infection hospitalization rate per 100,000 US National Inpatient Sample claims in 1998–2000 vs 2015–2016 (and rates of increase) was as follows: overall, 12.14 vs 25.15 (2.1-fold); opportunistic infections, 0.78 vs 0.83 (1.1-fold); skin and soft tissue infections, 1.38 vs 2.52 (1.8-fold); UTI, 0.35 vs 1.48 (4.2-fold); pneumonia, 7.10 vs 6.23 (0.9-fold); and sepsis, 2.53 vs 14.10 (5.6-fold).

• It was shown that pneumonia was the most common serious infection in 1998–2000 (58%) vs sepsis in 2015–2016 (56%).

• The results indicated that sepsis, older age, Deyo-Charlson comorbidity index score of ≥ 2, urban hospital, or medium/large hospital (by a number of beds) were correlated with higher health care utilization and in-hospital mortality rates; Northeast region and Medicare and Medicaid payer type were correlated with higher rates of health care utilization.