Epidemiology of pneumonia hospitalizations in Spain, 1995-1998.
OBJECTIVE
This epidemiological survey was undertaken to estimate the burden of hospital admissions for pneumonia in Spain during a four-year period (1995-1998).


METHODS
Data were obtained from the national surveillance system for hospital data.


RESULTS
There were 231,512 hospital admissions for pneumonia (ICD 9 CM 480-486; first listed diagnosis) during this period, that is an annual incidence of 177 cases per 100,000 population. The incidence was higher in children <5 years of age and in persons >or=65 years compared with other age groups. The annual cost of these hospitalizations to the National Health Care System was of 127 million ECUS.


CONCLUSIONS
Preventive measures, such as vaccination of population groups at high risk, to reduce pneumonia-related morbidity could result in large cost savings to the National Health Care System.
Gil
A
A
Department of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, Avda de Atenas s/n, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain. a.gildemiguel@cs.urjc.es
San-Martín
M
M
Carrasco
P
P
González
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology