How common is pneumonia?

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How common is pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a major cause of illness in the United States.¹

Each year:¹

• About 4 million people in the United States 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).
• Of the 4 million people who get community-acquired pneumonia each year, about 1 million 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.

References

Citations

1. Simon HB (2004). Pneumonia and other pulmonary infections. In DC Dale, DD Federman, eds., ACP Medicine, section 7, chap. 20. New York: WebMD.

2. 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.

Credits

Last updated:	April 02, 2007
Author:	Ralph Poore
Reviewed By:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, R. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care, Medical Toxicology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC