title: Morbidity and mortality of pneumonia in adults in six Latin American countries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the morbidity and mortality of pneumonia in adults over 50 years of age in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela.
  
  
  METHODS
  Local data sources were queried to estimate the number of hospitalized and outpatient pneumonia cases and deaths in the year 2009. Pneumonia cases were identified in adults aged ≥50 years using ICD-10 codes. The hospital case fatality rate (HCFR) by age corresponds to the percentage of mortality per hospitalization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cases of hospitalized pneumonia (incidence per 100 000 inhabitants/year) in adults ≥50 years were: Argentina 39 674 (401.1); Brazil 225 341 (611.6); Chile 30 434 (738.5); Colombia 26 955 (326.6); Mexico 82 397 (413.1); Venezuela 31 601 (640.1). The number of hospital deaths (CFR%) were: Argentina 5099 (13%); Brazil 47 287 (21%); Chile 3072 (10%); Colombia 2981 (11%); Mexico 13 312 (16%); Venezuela 11 101 (35%). Cases of outpatient pneumonia (incidence per 100 000 inhabitants/year) were: Argentina 54 093 (546.8); Brazil 260 277 (706.4); Chile 33 173 (804.9); Colombia 27 713 (335.8); Mexico 83 354 (417.9); Venezuela 39 645 (803.0). The percentage of episodes treated as outpatient was 64% (range 57-80%) among those aged 50-64 years and 39% (range 8-56%) among those ≥85 years. Across countries, 51% of hospitalizations (range 42-63%) and 69% of deaths (range 65-72%) were in adults ≥75 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pneumonia is a common cause of hospitalization and mortality in adults in Latin America. Incidence increases substantially with increasing age, as does the likelihood of hospitalization and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Links & Links S.A., de C.V., Calzada de Tlalpan 4764-1, Colonia Niño Jesus, Delegación Tlalpan, CP 14080, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Alfonso Rosado
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Buzzo
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Lourdes García
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Mollinedo
authors.forename: Joaquin Mould
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Quevedo
authors.forename: Gerardo Luna
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Casas
authors.forename: José Manuel Sobrino
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Soldevilla
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009026:Mortality; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality
keywords: Adults; Incidence; Latin American countries; Mortality; Pneumonia