Clinical and Epidemiological Behavior of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Geriatric Patients. Camilo Cienfuegos Provincial General Hospital. 2023–2025

Authors

Keywords:

Pneumonia; Aged; Geriatrics; Clinical Epidemiology; Risk Factors; Cuba.; Community-Acquired Pneumonia; Aged; Geriatrics; Clinical Epidemiology; Risk Factors; Cuba.

Abstract

Introduction: Community-acquired pneumonia is a major cause of hospital admission and death among older adults, a group rendered vulnerable by aging-related changes and the accumulation of chronic diseases.

Objective: To characterize the clinical and epidemiological profile of community-acquired pneumonia in geriatric patients at the Camilo Cienfuegos Provincial General Hospital in Sancti Spíritus during the 2023-2025 three-year period.

Methods: A descriptive, prospective, observational study. From a total population of 614 patients, a sample of 237 older adults was selected using simple random sampling, following a calculation for finite populations. Sociodemographic variables, risk factors, comorbidities, clinical manifestations, complications, and clinical course were analyzed. Data were collected using a specific form and processed with EPIDAT 4.x.

Results: Females (56.5 %) and the 80-89 age group (42.1 %) predominated. Tobacco exposure (54.0 %), chronic lung disease (67.9 %), and immobilization syndrome (42.6 %) stood out as risk factors. Arterial hypertension (38.4 %) and COPD (29.9 %) were the most frequent comorbidities. Clinically, cough (75.1 %), general malaise (72.2 %), and anorexia (71.3 %) prevailed. Acute respiratory failure complicated 31.2 % of cases. The clinical outcome was favorable in 82.3% of cases, and the case-fatality rate reached 5.9 %.

Conclusions: The clinical presentation combined typical respiratory symptoms with constitutional manifestations. Early detection of atypical presentations and the management of modifiable risk factors in this population are crucial.

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Author Biographies

Yuniel Abreu Hernández, Hospital General Provincial Camilo Cienfuegos.

Especialista de Primer y Segundo Grado en Medicina General Integral. Especialista de Primer y Segundo Grado en Medicina Interna. Máster en Sexología Clínica Comunitaria. Profesor Auxiliar. Investigador Auxiliar. Universidad de Ciencias Médicas. Hospital General Camilo Cienfuegos. Servicio de Medicina Interna. Sancti-Spíritus. Cuba.

Daimara Barrera León, Medico

Especialista de Primer Grado en Geriatría y Gerontología. Profesor Asistente. Investigador Agregado.  Universidad de Ciencias Médicas. Hospital Camilo Cienfuegos. Servicio de Geriatría. Sancti-Spíritus. Cuba.

Yamil Fidel García Guevara, Medico

Especialista de Primer Grado en Medicina Interna. Profesor Instructor. Universidad de Ciencias Médicas. Hospital General Camilo Cienfuegos. Servicio de Medicina Interna. Sancti-Spíritus. Cuba.

Jorge Luis Lorente Montiel, Medico

Estudiante de tercer año de la carrera de medicina. Universidad de Ciencias Médicas. Sancti-Spíritus. Cuba.

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Published

2026-08-24

How to Cite

1.
Abreu Hernández Y, Barrera León D, García Guevara YF, Lorente Montiel JL. Clinical and Epidemiological Behavior of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Geriatric Patients. Camilo Cienfuegos Provincial General Hospital. 2023–2025. Rev cuba med gen integr [Internet]. 2026 Aug. 24 [cited 2026 Aug. 27];42. Available from: https://revmgi.sld.cu/index.php/mgi/article/view/3898

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Section

ARTÍCULOS ORIGINALES