TY - JOUR T1 - Cost and outcomes of pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia among adults in the United Kingdom JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 38 IS - Suppl 55 SP - p2491 AU - Apostolos Charos AU - Paul Balmer Y1 - 2011/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p2491.abstract N2 - Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality among adults in the United Kingdom (UK). S. pneumoniae is the most common cause of CAP.Aims and objectives: The study objective was to evaluate the clinical and economic burden of pneumococcal CAP among adults in the UK.Methods: A cost-outcomes model was developed to estimate the inpatient costs and health outcomes associated with pneumococcal CAP among adults above 50 years old in the UK. Health outcomes were measured in terms of life-year (LY) and quality-adjusted life year (QALY) lost. National data sources were used to estimate hospital admissions, deaths and costs with CAP as primary diagnosis for 2009/10. Since specific pathogens for pneumonia are not commonly identified, the proportion of CAP attributable to S. pneumoniae was estimated based on literature findings. A structured literature review was conducted to identify UK specific quality of life data.Results: It was estimated that there were 58,604 annual hospital admissions for pneumococcal CAP for adults above 50 years old in UK, costing more than £122 million per year. In addition, there were 13,161 deaths per year resulting in 87,533 LYs lost. The total annual number of QALYs lost was 64,653. The disease burden was higher among older age groups with approximately 84% of pneumococcal CAP occurring in adults above 65 years.Conclusions: Pneumococcal CAP in adults presents a substantial burden both to individuals and to the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. The cost and outcomes of pneumococcal CAP should be incorporated into economic evaluations of adult pneumococcal vaccination strategies. ER -