Magnitude of Community Acquired Pneumonia among Hospital Treated Adults in Tigray, Ethiopia: A Hospital Based Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: Of the total respiratory system infections worldwide, pneumonia accounts 2-3% and community-acquired pneumonia takes the majority albeit little is known about the problem among adults in Ethiopia. Objective: To determine the magnitude of community acquired pneumonia among hospital treated adults in Tigray, Ethiopia. Methods: A retrospective patient record review was used. Charts of all pneumonia patients treated from July, 2013 to June, 2015 in zonal and tertiary hospitals of Tigray were included in the study.  Data were collected using a checklist and entered into Epi info 2002 and analysed using SPSS Version 20. Results: During the study period, there were 36,005 patients of all types of pneumonia & 5877 community acquired pneumonia cases. Hence, the magnitude of community acquired pneumonia was 16%, with proportions for males (16%) and females (17%). The mean age of the study participants was 37.5 (+16.65).The proportion of admitted patients due to community acquired pneumonia was 9.8% with a mean admission length of 6 (+5.59) days.Conclusion: The study revealed that the magnitude of community acquired pneumonia among the study participants in the study area was significant and most prevalent among younger population. Hence, prevention strategies should be designed and implemented to minimize the  problem.

Keywords: Magnitude, CAP, Adults, Tigray, Ethiopia