Length of hospital stay, delayed pneumonia diagnosis and post-discharge mortality. The Pneumonia in Italian Acute Care for Elderly units (PIACE)-SIGOT study.

Background: High-income countries are currently decreasing length of hospital stay (LOS), with the aim of improving resource utilization. Little is known about the contribution of LOS to short-term post-discharge mortality in older patients with pneumonia.

Aim: to identify factors independently associated with LOS and to determine whether LOS predicts 3-month post-discharge death in older patients hospitalized for pneumonia.

Contribution of clinical severity and geriatric risk factors in predicting short-term mortality of older hospitalized pneumonia patients: the Pneumonia in Italian Acute Care for Elderly units (PIACE) study.

Background: Clinical severity of pneumonia in older persons increases the risk for short-term mortality. Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) may provide further insight in prognostic stratification.

Aims: To investigate whether CGA may improve prognostic stratification among older patients with pneumonia admitted to hospital.