The burden of community-acquired pneumonia in Spain.

BACKGROUND

Community-acquired pneumonia accounts for a large number of hospitalizations and deaths in developed countries.

METHODS

Data for Spain were obtained from the national surveillance system for hospital data and comprises all hospital discharges for pneumonia reported during a two-year period.

RESULTS

The annual incidence of hospitalization for pneumonia was 160 per 100,000 population. Incidence of hospitalization, mortality, average length of stay and case-mortality rate were higher in persons > or = 65 years of age. The annual cost of these hospitalizations was 115 million ECUs (1 ECU = 1.19 US Dollars).

CONCLUSION

Community-acquired pneumonia accounts for 53,000 hospitalizations per year in Spain, and this imposes a large economic cost on the National Health-care System.