Risk Factors for Pneumonia

A risk factor is something that increases your chnace of getting a disease or condition.

It is possible to develop pneumonia with or without the risk factors listed below. However, the more risk factors you have, the greater your chance of developing pneumonia. If you have a number of risk factors, ask your doctor what you can do to reduce your risk.

Smoking and Second-hand Smoke

People who smoke have a much higher risk of developing pneumonia. If you stop smoking, your risk will gradually return to normal. However, this may take as long as ten years.

You are also at risk for pneumonia if you are regularly exposed to second-hand smoke. For example, children in households where the parents smoke have higher rates of pneumonia than do children in smoke-free households.

Alcohol and drug abuse put you at a higher risk of pneumonia. Intravenous drug use can increase your risk of pneumonia and other infectious diseases.

The risk of pneumonia is increased among people living in crowded conditions, such as:

Students in dormitories
Patients living in institutions
Military personnel in barracks
Poeple living in nursing homes

People who are hospitalized have a much higher risk of developing pneumonia than do nonhospitalized individuals. This risk is even higher for patients who have recently undergone major surgery or who are on ventilators. Other medical conditions that can increase your risk of developing pneumonia include:

Conditions that interfere with your gag reflex:
- Stroke
- Multiple sclerosis
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Head injury
- Senile dementia, Alzheimer’s disease
Conditions that weaken your immune system:
- AIDS
- History of organ transplant
- Cancer (especially leukemia and Hodgkin’s disease )
- Chemotherapy drugs
- Immunosuppressant drugs (including steroids)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Diabetes
Kidney disease
Congestive heart failure
Poor nutrition
Generally debilitated state
Asthma
Liver disease
Ventilator use

Children have a higher risk of developing pneumonia if they have:

Weakened immune systems
Gastroesophageal reflux disorder
Lung or heart defects
Asthma
Nervous system defects that affect the muscles of the mouth and/or throat

Pneumonia is more common among certain age groups:

Infants
Young children
Older adults

A number of genetic disorders can predispose you to pneumonia, such as:

Occupational exposure to toxic chemical fumes and/or smoke can weaken your lung’s defenses. This can increase your vulnerability to pneumonia germs.

References

Flanders SA, Collard HR, Saint S. Nosocomial pneumonia: state of the science. Am J Infect Control . 2006;34:84-93

Pneumonia symptoms diagnosis and treatment. American Lung Association website. Available at: http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/pneumonia/symptoms-diagnosis-and.html . Accessed October 3, 2012.

Pneumonia. National Heart Lung Blood Institute (NHLBI) website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/pnu/ . Updated March 1, 2011. Accessed October 3, 2012.

Pneumonia in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Updated August 27, 2012. Accessed October 3, 2012.

Pneumonia in children. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Updated August 27, 2012. Accessed October 3, 2012.

Revision Information

Reviewer: Brian Randall, MD
Review Date: 10/2012 -
Update Date: 10/11/2012 -

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

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