Severe sepsis in managed care: analysis of incidence, one-year mortality, and associated costs of care.

Objective: To determine severe sepsis (SS) incidence, hospital mortality, 1-year mortality, and costs associated with care in a sample of enrollees in a nationally representative individual practice association (IPA)-network managed care organization (MCO).

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of administrative claims data for commercial (not managed Medicare) members. We identified MCO members hospitalized for SS between July 1995 and December 1998.