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Epidemiology of patients hospitalised for pneumonia in 2011: a prospective multicentre cohort study

Christoph Wenisch1, Günter Weiss, Arno Lechner

  • 14. Medizinische Abteilung mit Infektions und Tropenmedizin, Kaiser Franz Josef Spital, Kundratstrasse 3, 1100, Vienna, Austria, christoph.wenisch@wienkav.at.

Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift
|September 25, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Pneumonia is more deadly in older adults (≥65 years). Comorbidities like heart failure and neurological disease, alongside advanced age, significantly increase mortality risk in pneumonia patients.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Internal Medicine
  • Geriatrics

Background:

  • Pneumonia remains a significant cause of hospitalizations and mortality.
  • Understanding age-dependent epidemiology and risk factors is crucial for effective management.
  • The Austrian Pneumonia Network (APNET) provides a valuable dataset for such investigations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the age-dependent epidemiology of pneumonia.
  • To identify key risk factors associated with hospital mortality in pneumonia patients.
  • To compare outcomes between younger (<65 years) and older (≥65 years) patient cohorts.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 1,956 inpatients diagnosed with pneumonia in 2011.
  • Data derived from the Austrian Pneumonia Network (APNET).
  • Statistical comparisons using Mann-Whitney and Chi-square tests; risk factor evaluation via univariate and multivariate analyses.

Main Results:

  • Overall hospital mortality was 10.4%, significantly higher in patients aged ≥65 years (12.7%) compared to those <65 years (5.0%).
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most prevalent pathogen; Enterobacteriaceae were more common in older patients.
  • Independent risk factors for mortality included age ≥65 years (OR 1.96), chronic heart failure (OR 1.59), and neurological disease (OR 1.7).

Conclusions:

  • Pneumonia presents a higher mortality risk in elderly patients (≥65 years).
  • Presence of chronic heart failure and neurological disease are significant independent risk factors for in-hospital death.
  • Pneumonia patients with these risk factors may benefit from intensified care protocols.

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