Turkish Journal of Geriatrics 2016 , Vol 19, Issue 4
IS THE COURSE OF PNEUMONIA THE SAME IN ELDERLY AND OLDER PATIENTS?
İpek ÖZMEN1, Elif YILDIRIM1, Hamza OGUN2, Halil İbrahim YAKAR3, Tülay TÖRÜN1, Haluk ÇALIŞIR4
1Süreyyapaşa Chest Diseases and Chest Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Chest Diseases Clinic, İSTANBUL
2Turhal State Hospital, Chest Diseases Clinic, TOKAT
3Ä°stanbul Medeniyet University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Chest Diseases, Ä°STANBUL
4Acıbadem University Atakent Hospital, Department of Chest Diseases, İSTANBUL Introduction: Pneumonia is a major mortality and morbidity reason among elderly. Age limit is commonly accepted as 65 years, but actually age definition varies by country.

Objective: In the present study we aimed to evaluate the course of pneumonia in patients age 75 and older as “75-84 years” and “85 and older” patients.

Materials and Method: This is a retrospective cohort study in a chest disease clinic between January 2009 and May 2013. Pneumonia patients aged 75 and older followed in chest disease ward were included in the study. The patients were evaluated in two groups: “75-84 years” and “85 and older”. Demographics, CURB65 score, hospital and short term mortality (mortality within 30 days after discharge) were recorded.

Results: A total number of 116 pneumonia patients, 54% male were enrolled. The mean age was 83±5 years. There were 76 patients in “75-84 years” group and 40 in “85 and older” group. The incidence of congestive heart failure/coronary artery disease was significantly higher in “85 and older” patients (P = 0.002). Penicillins and cephalosporins were the most commonly used antibiotics. In both age groups in-hospital and short-term mortalities were similar. The length of hospital stay was similar in both age groups, but “75-84 years” patients were more likely to transfer to intensive care unit than “85 and older” patients (11% vs. 3%, p = 0.13)

Conclusion: The course of pneumonia, LOS, and in-hospital and short-term mortality are analogous among “75-84 years” and “85 and older” patients. Close clinical follow-up, good compliance to guidelines and a good management to comorbidities is required. As multidisciplinary approach and close follow-up is vital for elderly patients, a focus on hospital workforce conditions while planning and organizing is essential. Keywords : Pneumonia; Aged; Frail Elderly; Aging