Study of predictors of mortality among older residents with pneumonia in Qatar's long-term care facilities

Abstract

It is widely recognized that older adults are at an increased risk of contracting pneumonia, which may lead to significant adverse outcomes, including increased rates of morbidity and mortality. The primary aim of this retrospective study was to identify the common factors that contribute to the mortality secondary to pneumonia in older individuals in long-term care facilities. Of the 326 admitted patients, 147 were aged over 65 years, and 51 were diagnosed with pneumonia. Of these 51 cases, only 19 met the inclusion criteria: 15 (79 %) died while 4 (21 %) survived over a 2-year follow-up period. White blood cell (WBC) count (p = 0.05) emerged as a significant predictor of mortality, while pneumonia was notably associated with the development of pressure ulcers (p = 0.08). Further research must be conducted to confirm these findings and uncover interventions designed to lower mortality rates among this population.

Keywords

• Mortality
• Pneumonia
• Older adult
• Long-term care facility