How Common is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a major cause of illness in the United States.

Each year:

• People get pneumonia in daily life through the home or workplace (community-acquired pneumonia). Community-acquired pneumonia does not include cases of pneumonia contracted in a health care facility (such as a nursing home or a hospital). Pneumonia is more common during the winter months.
• About 1 million of the people who get community-acquired pneumonia each year will have to go to the hospital.
• About 60,000 cases result in death.

People older than 65 years:

• Make up about one-third of all cases of community-acquired pneumonia.
• Are hospitalized more often and stay longer in the hospital than younger people.