Ankara Medical Journal (Mar 2020)

Evaluation of Comorbidities in Adult Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia

  • Ebru Sengul Parlak,
  • Aysegül Karalezli

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5505/amj.2020.78736
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 20, no. 1
pp. 116 – 122

Abstract

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INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is the evaluation of comorbidities in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia (TGP) and to investigate in the light of the literature. METHODS: This retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Chest Diseases. 142 patients with TGP between 2017-2019 were enrolled in the study. The data were obtained from the medical records of the patients. Demographic features, comorbidities and clinical findings of the patients were recorded. In the subgroup analysis, patients aged 65 and over were separately evaluated and their comorbid status was examined. RESULTS: The mean age of 142 patients were 59.68 +- 20.35 (min 18-max 95). There were 54 (38%) women and 88 (62%) men. Comorbidities were presented in 80 patients (56.30%). The most common comorbidities were cardiovascular diseases (41.50%), diabetes mellitus (23.90%) and chronic lung diseases (19%). Half of the patients with TGP were 65 years old or older. The patients were divided into two groups according to over 65 years and under. Comorbidities were compared in two groups. Comorbidities were found to be higher in patients over the age of 65 years as expected (p=0.001). There were significant differences between the two groups in terms of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus (p=0.001, p=0.049, respectively). There was a positive correlation between age and comorbidities (p=0.001, r=0.512, respectively). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Comorbidities in TGP are very important in determining the severity of the disease and treatment. Comorbidities are accompanied in most patients, especially in the increasing population of elderly patients. In this study, half of the patients hospitalized due to TGP consisted of patients aged 65 and over. In these patients should evaluate swallowing function especially in patients with neurological diseases. Also, primary health care and vaccination are important. Timely measures will ensure the elderly population to live more comfortably and reduce health costs. It will be beneficial to increase the number of geriatric centers in our country.

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