Epidemiological Trends in Brain Abscess Management and Mortality in an Aging Population: A Nationwide Study in the Republic of Korea (2005–2022)
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Uijeongbu Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University College of Medicine, Uijeongbu, Korea .
- 2Department of Neurosurgery, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri, Korea .
- 3Department of Neurosurgery, Nowon Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea .
Abstract
Objective: We aimed to analyze nationwide trends in the diagnosis and management of brain abscess and the associated 6-month mortality in the Republic of Korea between 2005 and 2022.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective nationwide cohort study using data from the National Health Insurance Service database in the Republic of Korea from 2005 to 2022. Patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of brain abscess who underwent brain imaging and either lumbar puncture or surgical intervention were included. Patient demographics, treatment modality, and 6-month all-cause mortality trends were analyzed.
Results: Among 8,857 identified patients with brain abscess, 64.5% were male individuals. The mean patient age increased from 49.7 years in 2005 to 60.5 years in 2022, indicating a shift toward an older patient population. Nevertheless, the annual incidence of brain abscesses remained stable at 0.7–1.2 cases per 100,000 people. Regarding surgical management, we observed a decrease in the use of craniotomy and an increase in the use of burr hole drainage over time. The overall 6-month mortality rate was 15.6%, and it did not change significantly during the study period. Mortality was relatively higher in older patients, reaching 36.6% in those aged ≥80 years.
Conclusion: Despite an increase in the mean age of patients with brain abscess, both incidence and 6-month mortality rate have remained stable over 18 years. As the population ages, age-adapted management strategies become increasingly important. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing clinical care and informing health policies on brain abscesses within ageing societies.
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BibTeX
@article{choi2026epidemiological,
title = {{Epidemiological Trends in Brain Abscess Management and Mortality in an Aging Population: A Nationwide Study in the Republic of Korea (2005–2022)}},
author = {Suk Hyun Choi and Yu Deok Won and In-Suk Bae and Yung Ki Park},
journal = {Korean Journal of Neurotrauma},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.13004/kjnt.2026.22.e36},
url = {https://doi.org/10.13004/kjnt.2026.22.e36},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Epidemiological Trends in Brain Abscess Management and Mortality in an Aging Population: A Nationwide Study in the Republic of Korea (2005–2022)
AU - Suk Hyun Choi
AU - Yu Deok Won
AU - In-Suk Bae
AU - Yung Ki Park
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/10
JO - Korean Journal of Neurotrauma
DO - 10.13004/kjnt.2026.22.e36
UR - https://doi.org/10.13004/kjnt.2026.22.e36
AB - Objective: We aimed to analyze nationwide trends in the diagnosis and management of brain abscess and the associated 6-month mortality in the Republic of Korea between 2005 and 2022. Methods: We conducted a retrospective nationwide cohort study using data from the National Health Insurance Service database in the Republic of Korea from 2005 to 2022. Patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of brain abscess who underwent brain imaging and either lumbar puncture or surgical intervention were included. Patient demographics, treatment modality, and 6-month all-cause mortality trends were analyzed. Results: Among 8,857 identified patients with brain abscess, 64.5% were male individuals. The mean patient age increased from 49.7 years in 2005 to 60.5 years in 2022, indicating a shift toward an older patient population. Nevertheless, the annual incidence of brain abscesses remained stable at 0.7–1.2 cases per 100,000 people. Regarding surgical management, we observed a decrease in the use of craniotomy and an increase in the use of burr hole drainage over time. The overall 6-month mortality rate was 15.6%, and it did not change significantly during the study period. Mortality was relatively higher in older patients, reaching 36.6% in those aged ≥80 years. Conclusion: Despite an increase in the mean age of patients with brain abscess, both incidence and 6-month mortality rate have remained stable over 18 years. As the population ages, age-adapted management strategies become increasingly important. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing clinical care and informing health policies on brain abscesses within ageing societies.
SN - 2234-8999
SN - 2288-2243
ER -