The burden of community-acquired pneumonia in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Community-acquired pneumonia accounts for a large number of hospitalizations and deaths in developed countries. METHODS: Data for Spain were obtained from the national surveillance system for hospital data and comprises all hospital discharges for pneumonia reported during a two-year period. RESULTS: The annual incidence of hospitalization for pneumonia was 160 per 100,000 population. Incidence of hospitalization, mortality, average length of stay and case-mortality rate were higher in persons > or = 65 years of age. The annual cost of these hospitalizations was 115 million ECUs (1 ECU = 1.19 US Dollars). CONCLUSION: Community-acquired pneumonia accounts for 53,000 hospitalizations per year in Spain, and this imposes a large economic cost on the National Health-care System.