Lower respiratory tract infections among the elderly in Finnøy municipality. A retrospective study of the incidence, treatment and outcome
Bråtveit, A.; Malterud, K.
Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening Tidsskrift for Praktisk Medicin Ny Raekke 112(21): 2751-2752
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-2001 PMID: 1412306 Document Number: 392967
Based on a retrospective study of the case records of the primary health care services in a small Norwegian coastal community (Finnøy), we found an incidence of 13% for lower respiratory infections in persons aged 70 years or more. Most often the initial medication was penicillin. In 23% of recorded episodes, medication was changed, owing to unsatisfactory response. Overall mortality in the group was 9%. Three out of five deaths occurred in patients terminally ill from other diseases at the time the respiratory infection started. Problems related to diagnosis, management and prevention are discussed.