Pneumonia in the elderly: a review of severity assessment, prognosis, mortality, prevention, and treatment.
Pneumonia is an increasingly common disease in the elderly due to an aging population. This is a comprehensive literature review outlining the severity assessment, morbidity, mortality, prevention and treatment options. Several models have been postulated to predict severity assessment and prognosis in older patients. Mortality increases with age and functional status is also an independent predictor for short- and long-term mortality. The effectiveness of the pneumococcal vaccine is controversial, whereas the influenza vaccine is universally recommended. Treatment involves antibiotics with the type and method depending on the severity of the pneumonia. However, treatment of nursing home patients is challenging and there are no validated guidelines at present to determine when transfer to the hospital is necessary.
Chong
Carol P
CP
Northern Clinical Research Centre, The Northern Hospital, 185 Cooper Street, Epping 3076, Victoria, Australia. carol.chong@nh.org.au
Street
Philip R
PR
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007252:Influenza Vaccines