Rates of patients dying from community acquired pneumonia in NHS hospitals nearly halve over last decade

The research, which audited the treatment and management of patients with Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) in 154 hospitals, found that death rates had reduced from 20.2% in 2009 to 10.4% in 2019.

The report also spotlights how more patients are now receiving faster and evidence-based management of the disease – with the vast majority of hospitals hitting British Thoracic Society ‘time targets’ for delivering vital medical interventions (known as the BTS ‘CAP care bundle’)  that  patients need on admission.

The data showed:

• In 74.4% of cases patients received their first dose of antibiotics within (the national target of) 4 hours of hospital admission in the 2018/19 audit (compared with 60% in 2009/10)
• In 58% of cases patients received antibiotics recommended in national guidance (compared with 54% in 2009/10)
• In 85.2% of cases patients received a chest x-ray within 4 hours of admission

Professor Wei Shen Lim, Consultant Respiratory Physician and Honorary Professor of Respiratory Medicine at Nottingham University Hospitals, member of the British Thoracic Society and author of the report said:

“The really good news is that over the past ten years, death rates from community acquired pneumonia in UK hospitals have continued to fall. Treatment and management of this form of pneumonia has really improved in NHS hospitals thanks to evidence-based guidance being put into action on the wards by lung specialists and their colleagues. 

"The audit has also shown an increase in the speed of giving antibiotics to patients on arrival in hospital and also in the number of senior medical reviews given within 12 hours.  These are examples of treatment improvements which will make a profound difference to patient outcomes.”

The BTS audit collected data from 10,196 patient records from 154 participating institutions covering the period between 1 December 2018 and 31 January 2019. The audit examines the patient profile, processes of care and outcomes relating to hospitalisation with an episode of CAP in the UK.  

The data also highlighted areas of concern – including:  

• Hospital re-admissions for CAP within 30 days have increased over the past three audits; and now occur in 14.3% of cases where patients have survived the condition after hospital discharge
• Hospital admissions via the emergency department (ED) have continued to increase; now comprising 85% of cases

Professor Lim said:

“There are many positives in this audit including faster provision of medication, faster x-rays and timely, higher levels of senior review.

"However, one area for improvement centres on the need to reduce the high volume of patients still arriving at hospital emergency departments with pneumonia.  Hospital care is really improving, but we need to prevent and manage the condition better in the community to avoid people needing a visit to hospital. This will require a more integrated approach between NHS hospitals, GPs and community care – sharing expertise, knowledge and best practice.” 

Pneumonia is a serious and sometimes deadly infection where air in the lung tissue is replaced with microorganisms, fluid and inflammatory cells –  making it difficult for the lungs to work properly. Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is usually defined as pneumonia that is acquired outside hospital and is caused by several different bacteria and viruses.  The annual incidence of CAP is 500–1100 per 100,000 of the adult (aged 18 years and over) population.

ENDS

For more information prior to the British Thoracic Society Winter Meeting (i.e. before Wednesday 4th December 2019):

Please contact: 

Charlotte Sutton: t: 07958 279240

charlotte.sutton@audiencesocialmarketing.com

Alessandra McKenna t: 07967 976652

alessandra.mckenna@audiencesocialmarketing.com

Ed Gyde t: 0780 9574801              

ed.gyde@audiencesocialmarketing.com

During the British Thoracic Society meeting (from Wednesday 4th to Friday 6th December 2019):

Please contact the BTS news media office on t: 020 7798 4541 / 020 7798 4542 or the mobile numbers above.

Note to Editors:

The British Thoracic Society is the UK’s professional body of respiratory specialists. The Society seeks to improve standards of care for people who have respiratory diseases and to support and develop those who provide that care.  A registered charity, it has about 3,700 members including doctors, nurses, respiratory physiotherapists, scientists and other professionals with a respiratory interest.

The British Thoracic Society Winter Meeting takes place between 4-6 December 2019 at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster, London.