How Common is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a major cause of illness in the United States.

Each year:

  • People get pneumonia in daily life through the home or workplace (community-acquired pneumonia). Community-acquired pneumonia does not include cases of pneumonia contracted in a health care facility (such as a nursing home or a hospital). Pneumonia is more common during the winter months.
  • About 1 million of the people who get community-acquired pneumonia each year will have to go to the hospital.
  • About 60,000 cases result in death.

People older than 65 years:

  • Make up about one-third of all cases of community-acquired pneumonia.
  • Are hospitalized more often and stay longer in the hospital than younger people.

ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer R. Steven Tharratt, MD, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine

Current as ofMarch 25, 2017