It's possible to predict pneumonia risk in elderly people

Pneumonia is a life threatening illness in the elderly and so predicting who is particularly at risk is important in order to help with prevention interventions. Health in Aging Foundation reports that researchers have developed a “prediction score” which can help healthcare professionals predict which elderly people might be at the highest risk for developing pneumonia. In older adults pneumonia is a leading cause of illness and death. Approximately 40 percent of older adults suffering from pneumonia are hospitalized and confronted with high rates of complications and death. The primary risk factors for pneumonia include getting older, chronic lung disease, smoking, being underweight, and having problems functioning. This study has been published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. It is possible physicians could use a pneumonia prediction score to encourage elderly people to get the pneumococcal vaccine which protects against pneumonia. Physicians could also use this score to counsel high risk people about positive behavioral changes such as to stop smoking. It is therefore clear predicting who is at highest risk for pneumonia could save lives.