Risk Factors of Community Acquired Pneumonia among Geriatric Population

Abstract

Introduction: Pneumonia in the elderly is a common and serious problem with a clinical presentation that can differ from that in younger patients. Older patients with pneumonia complain of significantly fewer symptoms than do younger patients, and delirium commonly occurs. Clinically pneumonia is characterized by a variety of symptoms and signs. Cough (which may be productive of purulent, mucopurulent, or “rust-coloured” sputum), fever, chills, and pleuritic chest pain are among its manifestations. Material and methods: This is a prospective and observational study conducted in the Pulmonary Medicine, Kurnool Medical College from March 2018 to April 2019. Patients were questioned on clinical history, lifestyle habits and using a standard questionnaire. Anthropometry and a physical examination were performed for all participants in a standardized manner. This study carried out on 60 cases of community-acquired pneumonia of patients aged >65 years. Results: Patients presented with both typical and atypical symptoms. Among the typical respiratory symptoms, cough was present in 45 (75%) patients, expectoration in 39 (65%) patients, 23 had mucopurulent sputum, and 10 patients had mucoid sputum, fever in 33 (55%) patients, dyspnoea in 15 (25%), and pleuritic chest pain in 12 (20%) patients. The most common bacterial organism to be isolated from the sputum cultures was Klebsiella pneumoniae in 42 (70.0%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 30 (50 %), Candida albicans in 30 (50%) and Acinetobacter baumanni in 27 (45%). In blood culture however, the most common organism to isolated was Klebsiella pneumoniae in 10 (16.7%) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 5 (8.4%). Conclusion: Community-acquired pneumonia in elderly patients is a common and serious problem encountered in clinical practice. Elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia have different clinical presentation and higher mortality. Elderly patients may present with atypical symptoms like altered sensorium and gastrointestinal symptoms, other than the typical respiratory symptoms of pneumonia.