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Research Article: Factors Associated with Hospitalized Community-Acquired Pneumonia among Elderly Patients Receiving Home-Based Care

Date Published: 2024-02-08

Abstract:
(1) Background: Pneumonia stands as a prevalent infectious disease globally, contributing significantly to mortality and morbidity rates. In Taiwan, pneumonia ranks as the third leading cause of death, particularly affecting the elderly population (92%). This study aims to investigate factors associated with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) among elderly individuals receiving home-based care. (2) Methods: Conducted between January 2018 and December 2019, this retrospective study involved a medical chart review of elderly patients under home-based care. A multiple logistic regression model was employed to identify factors associated with CAP in this demographic. (3) Results: Analysis encompassed 220 elderly patients with an average age of 82.0 ± 1.1 years. Eighty-five patients (38.6%) were hospitalized for CAP. Predominant diagnoses included cancer (32.3%), stroke (24.5%), and dementia (23.6%). Significant predictors of CAP for elderly patients under home-based care included male gender (odds ratio [OR] = 4.10, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.95–8.60, p < 0.001), presence of a nasogastric (NG) tube (OR = 8.85, 95% CI: 3.64–21.56, p < 0.001), and a borderline negative association with the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.13–1.02, p = 0.0546). End-of-life care indicators for these patients with CAP included an increased number of hospital admission days in the last month of life (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.08–1.18, p < 0.001) and a higher likelihood of hospital death (OR = 3.59, 95% CI: 1.51–8.55, p = 0.004). (4) Conclusions: In the current study, significant predictors of CAP among elderly patients receiving home-based care included the presence of an NG tube and male gender, while the use of PPIs was borderline inversely associated with the risk of CAP. Notably, more admission days in the last month of life and death in the hospital were found to be associated with end-of-life care for this group.

Introduction:
Globally, the rapidly aging population poses a significant challenge for future provision of end-of-life care [1]. This demographic shift is expected to lead to an increased demand for various forms of healthcare services, including primary health care, home care, long-term care, and end-of-life care [2]. In 2018, Taiwan met the World Health Organization’s definition of an aged population, with over 14% of its residents aged 65 years and older. In 2019, there were a total of 175,424 deaths in Taiwan, with the…

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