Abstract
Despite the use of vaccines and various antibiotics, approximately 30% of the South Korean population is treated for pneumonia each year, and the number of deaths from pneumonia continues to increase. The present study used information on discharged patients in South Korea to investigate the number and characteristics of discharged pneumonia patients across 12 years. Using the Korean National Hospital Discharge In-Depth Injury Survey data, information on discharged patients from 2006 to 2017 were collected. The number of discharged pneumonia patients for each year and their age group was assessed, and the Charlson Comorbidity Index was used to assess the risk of comorbidities in these patients. The number of discharged pneumonia patients varied every year in South Korea. In particular, the total number of patients increased substantially in 2011, with a large increase in the number of infants and children. In addition, the number of discharged pneumonia patients increased in the elderly group compared to the other age groups. Moreover, a recent increase in the severity of comorbidities in pneumonia patients was noted. Given the continued increase in the number of elderly patients with pneumonia, chronic diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, should be managed first in the elderly. Moreover, appropriate treatment methods should be selected based on the presence of comorbidities.
Highlights
Accepted: 17 August 2021Approximately 30% of the South Korean population is treated for pneumonia each year [1]
Given the increasing mortality associated with pneumonia in South Korea, this study used 12 years of information on discharged pneumonia patients to analyze yearly trends
We found that the number of discharged pneumonia patients fluctuated from year to year
Summary
30% of the South Korean population is treated for pneumonia each year [1]. The high mortality associated with pneumonia is especially noticeable in male and elderly patients, which can be explained by the increase in patients with chronic diseases due to the aging of the population [3]. Bacteria or viruses cause inflammatory reactions in the lung parenchyma below the level of bronchioles [4]. Depending on how it is acquired, pneumonia is classified as community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), hospital-acquired pneumonia, and healthcareassociated pneumonia [4]. The present study aimed to assess the number of discharged pneumonia patients in South Korea and their comorbidities using 12 years of data. Understanding the epidemiology of pneumonia in South Korea is important, as it can serve as important evidence in establishing international clinical guidelines and treatment strategies
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