SEPTICEMIA

The vast majority of deaths from septicemia occur in the elderly population; in 1996, 82.9 percent of the 1,237 septicemia deaths were of persons 65 and over (Table M13). Although the age-adjusted death rate has changed very little from 1987, most of the age groups had higher septicemia death rates in 1996, with the exception of persons 15 through 24 and 45 through 64. It should be noted that there were relatively few deaths in age groups under 45 years. The number of deaths has increased most dramatically in the 85 and over population (120 more deaths due to septicemia in 1996 than in 1987). The increased life span and consequent greater exposure to invasive medical procedures may be related to the rapid increase in these deaths among the older population.