TY - JOUR
T1 - Characterizing the timing and causes of death in community-acquired pneumonia
AU - Al-Zergani, Fatimah
AU - Meddis, Alessandra
AU - Clausen, Clara Lundetoft
AU - Ravn, Pernille
AU - Roldgaard, Marcus Sebastian
AU - Kolte, Lilian
AU - Sarac, Hacer
AU - Fally, Markus
AU - Israelsen, Simone Bastrup
AU - Benfield, Thomas
N1 - Copyright © 2026. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
PY - 2026/3/14
Y1 - 2026/3/14
N2 - OBJECTIVE: We assessed the timing and causes of death in subjects hospitalised with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).METHODS: A cohort of 2,918 immunocompetent adults hospitalised with CAP followed for 90 days between 2017-2020. Each immediate and underlying cause of death was independently assessed by two physicians.RESULTS: Overall, 19% (562/2918) of patients died within 90 days. Pneumonia-related deaths (243/562 [43%]) primarily occurred within the first two weeks of admission, and respiratory failure was the most common cause of death overall (272/562 [48%]). Later deaths were either unrelated to pneumonia (159/562 [28%]) or unknown (160/562 [28%]), if they occurred out of hospital. Of deceased patients 314/562 (56%) transitioned to palliative care within the last 7 days of life.CONCLUSION: In a contemporary cohort, CAP-related mortality occurred early while later deaths were driven by comorbidities and increased frailty. Understanding the burden of CAP through specific cause-of death assessment is critical to evaluate treatment effects, and to improve outcomes for increasingly frail patient populations.
AB - OBJECTIVE: We assessed the timing and causes of death in subjects hospitalised with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).METHODS: A cohort of 2,918 immunocompetent adults hospitalised with CAP followed for 90 days between 2017-2020. Each immediate and underlying cause of death was independently assessed by two physicians.RESULTS: Overall, 19% (562/2918) of patients died within 90 days. Pneumonia-related deaths (243/562 [43%]) primarily occurred within the first two weeks of admission, and respiratory failure was the most common cause of death overall (272/562 [48%]). Later deaths were either unrelated to pneumonia (159/562 [28%]) or unknown (160/562 [28%]), if they occurred out of hospital. Of deceased patients 314/562 (56%) transitioned to palliative care within the last 7 days of life.CONCLUSION: In a contemporary cohort, CAP-related mortality occurred early while later deaths were driven by comorbidities and increased frailty. Understanding the burden of CAP through specific cause-of death assessment is critical to evaluate treatment effects, and to improve outcomes for increasingly frail patient populations.
KW - CAP
KW - Causes of death
KW - Community-acquired pneumonia
KW - Hospitalization
KW - Mortality
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105034535817
U2 - 10.1016/j.cmi.2026.03.016
DO - 10.1016/j.cmi.2026.03.016
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 41839423
SN - 1198-743X
JO - Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
JF - Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
ER -