Table 1

Demographic characteristics and underlying diseases

ItemsCases (%)
Male3117 (53.5)
Age (years, median, IQR)65 (53–78)
 14−642802 (48.1)
 65−741081 (18.5)
 75−891760 (30.2)
 ≥90185 (3.2)
Source of admission (n=5823)
 From outpatient department4183 (71.8)
 From emergency room1588 (27.3)
  Transfer from other hospital52 (0.9)
Days from illness onset to admission
(n=5826, median, IQR)
6.0 (3.0–14.0)
Patients who received antibiotics before admission2664 (45.7)
 β-Lactams1015 (38.1)
 Fluoroquinolones586 (22.0)
 Macrolides170 (6.4)
 β-Lactams+fluoroquinolones413 (15.5)
 β-Lactams+macrolides201 (7.5)
 Others279 (10.5)
Systemic glucocorticosteroids use before admission250 (4.3)
Underlying diseases4219 (72.4)
 Hypertension2053 (35.2)
 Coronary heart disease1163 (20.0)
 Diabetes913 (15.7)
 Cerebrovascular diseases890 (15.3)
 COPD801 (13.7)
 Bronchiectasis629 (10.8)
 Asthma339 (5.8)
 Malignant solid tumours254 (4.4)
 Congestive heart failure202 (3.5)
 Chronic renal diseases201 (3.4)
 Connective tissue diseases110 (1.9)
 Chronic hepatic diseases90 (1.5)
Smoking status
 Current smokers1009 (17.3)
 Ex-smokers590 (10.1)
Alcoholism407 (7.0)
Risk factors for aspiration*377 (6.5)
History of CAP within 1 year368 (6.3)
History of vaccination
 Influenza vaccine within 1 year12 (0.2)
Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine within 5 years8 (0.1)
Risk factors for HCAP according to IDSA/ATS criteria868 (14.9)
 Hospitalised in an acute care hospital for two or more days within 90 days404 (6.9)
 Received recent intravenous antibiotic therapy, chemotherapy or wound care within the past 30 days656 (11.3)
 Attended a hospital or haemodialysis clinic36 (0.6)
 Residence in a nursing home or long-term care facility19 (0.3)
CURB-65 score (n=5594)
 02343 (41.9)
 12199 (39.3)
 2884 (15.8)
 3147 (2.6)
 420 (0.4)
 51 (0.0)
PSI risk class (n=3609)
 I1130 (31.3)
 II904 (25.0)
 III748 (20.7)
 IV646 (17.9)
 V181 (5.0)
Shorr Score (n=5650)
 05084 (90.0)
 1541 (9.6)
 223 (0.4)
 32 (0.0)
 40 (0.0)
Aliberti Score (n=5828)
 Low-risk group5226 (89.7)
 High-risk group602 (10.3)
Clinical stability on admission† (n=5130)1111 (21.7)
  • *Risk factors for aspiration included choking, drowning, nasal feeding, pseudobulbar palsy, dementia, coma, poisoning and Parkinson’s disease.

  • †Clinical stability was defined as satisfying the following at the same time: axillary temperature ≤37.8°C for more than 24 hours; heart rate ≤100 beats/min in resting state; breathing rate ≤24 breaths/min; systolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg; SpO≥90% on room air; ability to maintain oral intake; normal mental status.

  • CAP, community-acquired pneumonia; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CURB-65, confusion; urea >7 mmol/L, respiratory rate >30 breaths/min, systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg or diastolic  blood pressure <60 mmHg, age ≥65 years; HCAP, healthcare associated pneumonia; IDSA/ATS, Infectious Diseases Society America/American Thoracic Society; PSI, Pneumonia Severity Index.