Current Epidemiological Data on Community Acquired Pneumonia in Children After Improvements in the Health System and Socioeconomic Changes in Turkiye

Abstract

In this study, it was investigated that current epidemiological situation and risk factors of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in pediatric patients in Türkiye, after socioeconomic changes and health system improvements in the past two decades. In total 1,488 children treated with a diagnosis of pneumonia in Gulhane Training and Research Hospital (Ankara) Pediatrics Department between 2016 to 2021 were included in the present study. The patients’ demographic data, personal and family histories, and socioeconomic status were recorded. Of the 1,488 pediatric patients (mean age; 43.20±41.04 months and 46.8% girls); 108 were aged 0-6 months (7.3%), 672 were aged >6-24 months (45.2%), 444 were aged >24-60 months (29.8%), and 264 were aged >60 months (17.7%). In total, 98.4% of patients underwent routine vaccination and the rate of seasonal influenza vaccination was 5.6%. Additionally, 444 patients (29.8%) had chronic disease; asthma and cerebral palsy were the most common chronic diseases, 276 and 84 patients respectively. A family history of asthma in first-degree relatives was present in 396 patients (26.6%). There have been substantial changes in the epidemiology of CAP in Türkiye, due to socioeconomic changes, increasing urbanization, and health system improvements and the current effects of these changes are presented in our study with comprehensive data that can be used in further comparative studies.