2023 Volume 72 Issue 3 Pages 249-257
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the incidence of aspiration pneumonia in Nagasaki Prefecture and clarify the characteristics of aspiration pneumonia.
Methods: Cases of aspiration pneumonia that occurred in Nagasaki Prefecture between 2005 and 2019 were analyzed using emergency transportation records. The number of occurrences and incidence were analyzed according to age, sex, season, day of the week, and time of emergency call to clarify the actual situation of aspiration pneumonia.
Results: The total number of new aspiration pneumonia cases was 8,321, at a mean age of 83.0 years. Annual incidence per 100,000 population increased from 12.4 in 2005 to 65.1 in 2019, with the most prominent increase in the ≥ 80-year-old stratum. Males (55.1%) were relatively more commonly affected than females (44.9%) and 82.2% of cases involved patients ≥ 70 years old. No significant correlations were seen between incidence of aspiration pneumonia and season, month, or day of the week. Aspiration pneumonia occurred more frequently in the home (39.8%) and facilities for the elderly (40.8%). Seven days after admission, 80.9% of patients had been hospitalized and 6.5% had died.
Conclusion: Information on actual situations and valid preventive measures relevant to aspiration pneumonia are urgently needed.
