Mortality from community-acquired pneumonia: prevalence at Loma Pyta Hospital

Introduction: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly. In the hospital setting, the timely identification of severe cases and the evaluation of outcomes such as mortality are essential to optimize clinical care and establish health policies. In Paraguay, there are still gaps in epidemiological information on the prevalence of deaths associated with CAP, particularly in maternal and child care hospitals. Objective: To determine the prevalence of deaths among older adults hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia at the Loma Pyta Maternal and Child Hospital during 2024. Method: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out with 43 patients. Clinical records and hospital statistics were used for data collection, which were analyzed using descriptive statistics to calculate the prevalence of mortality. Conclusion: This study showed that at the Loma Pyta Hospital, CAP primarily affected older adult patients with cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities and presenting with classic respiratory symptoms. Late treatment initiation and limited access to intensive care may influence clinical outcome and length of hospital stay. These findings highlight the importance of early diagnosis, appropriate to improve outcomes in this vulnerable population.