Evidence Hub

Epidemiology and management of community acquired pneumonia: more than 10 years experience

Pérez-Deago B, Alonso-Porcel C, Elvira-Menendez C, Murcia-Olagüenaga A, Martínez-Ibán M

Semergen, 2018

1,290 participants · 4 citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To describe the characteristics of patients diagnosed with Community Acquired Pneumonia in this basic health area, their management, outcomes, and use of prognostic scales driven by the few studies carried out from Primary Care on these aspects.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Descriptive cross-sectional study on a population diagnosed with Community Acquired Pneumonia if three urban health centres, during the period January 2000 to 31 July 2103.

RESULTS

Out of a sample of 1,290 patients obtained, 56.1% were men, and the mean age of the population was 61.9 years. There were 22.7% smokers. More than half (59.9%) had a disease in the prognostic scales, with Diabetes Mellitus present in 20%, and 36.1% with pulmonary disease (17.6% COPD, 11.8% asthma). Just under half (43.2%) of the total patients were diagnosed in Primary Care. There was a diagnostic X-ray in 92.7% of the cases, and a follow-up X-ray in 59.4%. Prognostic scales were recorded in 2% of the cases. The most commonly used antibiotics were amoxicillin-clavulanic (30.7%) and levofloxacin (30.4%). Having prior disease increases the risk of re-treatment by 1.6 (95% CI; 1.1-2.2)]. The mortality risk is multiplied by 5.3 on having a previous disease (95% CI; 1.3-19.2).

CONCLUSIONS

In the Primary Care setting, Community Acquired Pneumonia is a common and potentially serious disease which, in half the cases, occurs in patients with associated comorbidity. As regards treatment and management, is highlighted the wide use made…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 1,290 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free