Background In England, infections cause 7% of deaths, cost 30 billion pounds annually, and are more common in disadvantaged populations. However, there has been no single, unifying analysis of the overall social patterning of the health burden of infections in England and how this is changing over time. This study quantified social inequalities in patients admitted to secondary healthcare facilities for infections in England between 2005 and 2016.

Methods An ecological analysis was performed using neighbourhood-level Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data concerning emergency hospitalisations across England for the study period from 2005 to 2016. Linear mixed effects models were used to assess age-adjusted trends in emergency admission rates for serious infections. Absolute inequalities in emergency admission rates for serious infections between the most and least income deprived neighbourhoods were quantified and compared to trends in non-infectious disease related admissions.

Results Between 2005 and 2016, age-adjusted emergency admission rates for serious infections increased 52% (1894 and 2870 per 100,000 population for 2005 and 2016, respectively) across England. In 2005, the absolute inequalities gap comparing rates of serious infections in the highest versus lowest deprivation quintile was 1197 per 100,000 (95%CI 1176 to 1217) and this increased over time. The annual increase in absolute inequality in the most deprived areas compared to the least was 51 emergency admissions per 100,000 (95%CI 49–52). In 2005, the absolute inequalities gap comparing rates of non-infectious disease related admissions in the highest versus lowest deprivation quintile was 5950 per 100,000 (95%CI 5880 to 6020). The annual increase in absolute inequality of non-infectious disease related admissions in the most deprived areas compared to the least was 27 emergency admissions per 100,000 (95%CI 22–32). Subsequent analyses will explore trends in different age groups, alternative measures of inequalities, and sub-groups of infectious outcomes.

Discussion Emergency admission rates for serious infections and non-infections have increased in England. In addition, absolute inequalities have widened, especially for emergency admissions due to serious infections. These findings support the need for stronger public health and prevention efforts to address inequalities in the social determinants of ill health, with a specific focus on infectious diseases.