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Epidemiology of pneumonia hospitalizations in Spain, 1995-1998
A Gil1, M San-Martín, P Carrasco
1Department of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, Avda de Atenas s/n, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain. a.gildemiguel@cs.urjc.es
Objectives:
This epidemiological survey was undertaken to estimate the burden of hospital admissions for pneumonia in Spain during a four-year period (1995-1998).
Methods:
Data were obtained from the national surveillance system for hospital data.
Results:
There were 231,512 hospital admissions for pneumonia (ICD 9 CM 480-486; first listed diagnosis) during this period, that is an annual incidence of 177 cases per 100,000 population. The incidence was higher in children <5 years of age and in persons >or=65 years compared with other age groups. The annual cost of these hospitalizations to the National Health Care System was of 127 million ECUS.
Conclusions:
Preventive measures, such as vaccination of population groups at high risk, to reduce pneumonia-related morbidity could result in large cost savings to the National Health Care System.