[Clinical characteristics of pneumonia in the oldest old patients].

OBJECTIVE

The incidence and mortality rates of pneumonia are far higher in the elderly, especially. There are few report which investigate pneumonia only in the oldest old.

METHOD: We performed a retrospective study of 34 patients over age 80 who were admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia over a period of 24 months.

RESULTS

The patients' mean age was 87.1 years. Of these, 19 were men (55.9%) and 15 were women (44.1%). Upon admission, the most common symptom was anorexia (87.5%). In the elderly patients, nervous system diseases, such as cerebrovascular disease and dementia, were the most common underlying diseases. The crude mortality rate was 14.7%, and the mean duration of hospitalization 33.7 days. In laboratory findings, serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels were high, and percutaneous oxygen saturation level was low. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was the most common causative pathogen. The patients were treated equally with carbapenems (44.1%) and penicillins (44.1%).

CONCLUSION

Pneumonia may be associated with reduced respiratory symptom, raising the possibility that its diagnosis may be delayed, resulting in a severe condition in the oldest old patients. We must select the most appropriate treatment according to age because pneumonia in extremely elderly patients have many aspects different from young cases.