Clinical aspects of pneumonia in the elderly veteran

While atypical presentation of pneumonia in elderly patients is thought to be common, its incidence and factors predisposing to it are unknown. This study documents presenting symptoms of pneumonia in 48 patients, aged 65 or older, admitted to the medical service at a Veterans Administration Medical Center. Seventeen subjects (35%) had a classic constellation of symptoms which included both fever and cough. A chief complaint suggestive of pneumonia, defined as cough, fever, or shortness of breath, occurred in 27 subjects (56%). Five subjects (10%) had no symptoms suggestive of pneumonia even with a detailed history. Absence of a classic constellation of pneumonia symptoms correlated with advanced age (P = .0045), cognitive impairment at admission (P = .022), and baseline functional impairment (P = .028). Neither nutritional status as measured by serum albumin nor medical status as measured by number of medical problems and number of medications predicted an atypical presentation of pneumonia. Nineteen subjects (39%) did not have a documented fever, and 15 subjects (31%) did not have a leukocytosis. Absence of fever or leukocytosis did not correlate with age, number of medical problems, number of medications, cognitive status, functional status, or serum albumin. We conclude that a classic constellation of symptoms, signs and laboratory findings is frequently absent but some suggestive symptom is usually present in this population of elderly veterans with community-acquired pneumonia. Patients with advanced age, cognitive impairment at admission, and baseline functional impairment are most likely to have an atypical presentation of pneumonia.