Hospitalization and mortality rates for nursing home-acquired pneumonia.
BACKGROUND
The effect of hospitalization on nursing home patients with pneumonia is not known. We hoped to learn more about the effect of hospitalization on outcome by comparing patients with pneumonia from 2 nursing homes.


METHODS
Using a retrospective chart review, we compared a total of 129 patients with pneumonia from 2 community nursing homes in upstate New York over a 2-year study period. The main intervention measures were treatment in the hospital or treatment in the nursing home. The main outcome measures were resolution or mortality at 6 weeks.


RESULTS
Nursing home B had a hospital admission rate for pneumonia (38.8%) that was double that of nursing home A (19.4%). The patient populations were judged to be similar, and the overall mortality outcome for both (weighted average = 24.8%) was essentially identical.


CONCLUSIONS
Doubling the hospital admission rate in 1 of 2 similar groups of nursing home patients with pneumonia was not associated with an improved mortality outcome at 6 weeks.
Thompson
R S
RS
Pinnacle Health System, Harrisburg, PA, USA.
Hall
N K
NK
Szpiech
M
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome