Who is most at risk of pneumonia?
Who is most at risk of pneumonia?
Pneumonia can affect anyone, and it often occurs during winter months.1 Some people are at more risk of catching pneumonia. Risk factors include:
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AGE
The incidence of pneumococcal pneumonia starts increasing from the age of 452
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LONG-TERM MEDICAL CONDITIONS
Cardiovascular (heart) disease, diabetes or a respiratory disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)3
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WEAKENED IMMUNITY
People with weakened immunity include:3
- those with chronic heart, lung, liver or kidney disease
- patients with asplenia or splenic dysfunction
- those with multiple myeloma or genetic disorders affecting the immune system.
- patients undergoing chemotherapy
- bone marrow transplant patients
- those with HIV ( at all stages)
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SMOKING
Pneumonia is more common and can be more serious in people that smoke.4
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FLU
Can increase chances of catching pneumonia by 100-times‡ 5
‡ Based on a modeling study of the population of Illinois, USA.
PP-VAC-GBR-0753
References
- BLF. What is Pneumonia. Available at: https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/pneumonia/what-is-pneumonia/ . Last Accessed March 2021
- Miller E, Andrews NJ, Waight PA, et al. Herd Immunity and serotype replacement 4 years after seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccination in England and Wales: an observational cohort study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2011;11:760-768.
- Public Health England. The Green Book [2013]. Chapter 25: Pneumococcal. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pneumococcal-the-green-book-chapter-25. Last accessed March 2021.
- NHS. Pneumonia. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pneumonia/. Last accessed March 2021
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Shrestha S, Foxman B, Weinberger DM, et al. Identifying the interaction between influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia using incidence data. Sci Transl Med. 2013;5(191):191ra84.