Impacto de la neumonía en España, 1992-2001

Pneumonia is a respiratory disease caused by biological agents. It is the main individual cause of child mortality worldwide, hence its great importance for public health, and its distribution varies in keeping with the degree of development of the countries where it occurs. The paper presents a characterization of pneumonia in Spain for the 1992-2001 period according to age and sex. Data are expressed in years of potential life lost and discharge rates. They suggest that strategies are required to reduce pneumonia, with special attention to children and elderly persons. It is advisable to improve diagnosis and foster actions related to prevention and treatment. In Spain pneumonia exhibits the highest mortality rates among elderly persons. Despite the current reduction in pneumonia morbidity and mortality in some age groups and geographic regions worldwide, it is necessary to implement continuing actions contributing to its definitive control.