Epidemiologic trends in the hospitalization of elderly Medicare patients for pneumonia, 1991-1998

• DOI: 10.2105/ajph.91.7.1121
• Publication Date: 2008-11-29T13:33:29Z
• Authors: William B. Baine; Wenxi Yu; JAMES P. SUMME
• Keywords: Klebsiella pneumonia; Aspiration Pneumonia

This study determined hospitalization rates of elderly Americans for pneumonia from 1991 through 1998.Epidemiologic data were described 273,143 hospitalizations.Annual hospitalizations aspiration increased by 93.5%. Pneumonia steeply with age, especially among men. Black men at highest risk aspiration, unspecified, Klebsiella, "other gram-negative," and staphylococcal pneumonia; White had the Haemophilus pneumococcal rates. Among women, Blacks predominated in Klebsiella Whites bronchopneumonia rates.An epidemic smoldered over 8 years. Significant disparities existed risks race, sex, principal diagnosis.