How Common is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is a major cause of illness in the United
States.1
Each year:1
- People get pneumonia in daily life through the home or workplace (community-acquired
pneumonia). Community-acquired pneumonia does not include cases of pneumonia
contracted in a health care facility (such as a nursing home or a hospital). Pneumonia is more common during the winter months.
- About 1
million of the people who get community-acquired pneumonia each year will have to go to the hospital.
- About 60,000 cases result
in death.
People older than 65 years:2
- Make up about one-third of all cases of
community-acquired pneumonia.
- Are hospitalized more often and stay
longer in the hospital than younger people.
Citations
- Katz JT (2009). Pneumonia and other pulmonary
infections. In EG Nabel, ed., ACP Medicine,
section 7, chap. 20. Hamilton, ON: BC Decker.
- Niederman MS (2004). Pneumonia, including
community-acquired and nosocomial pneumonia. In JD Crapo et al., eds.,
Baum's Textbook of Pulmonary Diseases, 7th ed., vol. 1,
pp. 424–454. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | R. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine, Medical Toxicology |
|---|
| Last Revised | March 17, 2011 |
|---|
Last Revised:
March 17, 2011
Katz JT (2009). Pneumonia and other pulmonary
infections. In EG Nabel, ed., ACP Medicine,
section 7, chap. 20. Hamilton, ON: BC Decker.
Niederman MS (2004). Pneumonia, including
community-acquired and nosocomial pneumonia. In JD Crapo et al., eds.,
Baum's Textbook of Pulmonary Diseases, 7th ed., vol. 1,
pp. 424–454. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
