• Jun-Jun Yeh, Cheng-Li Lin, Chung Y Hsu, Zon-Yin Shae, and Chia-Hung Kao.
• a Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital , Chiayi , Taiwan.
• Curr Med Res Opin. 2019 Jun 1; 35 (6): 1033-1039.

PurposeThe association between pneumonia and neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) has never been reported in detail. We address this relationship with reference to the general population.MethodsUsing Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database to identify a pneumonia cohort (including the typical and atypical), we established an ND cohort of 19,062 patients and a non-ND cohort of 76,227 people. In both cohorts, the risk of pneumonia was measured using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models.ResultsThe adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) for the pneumonia cohort was 2.10 (1.96-2.24), regardless of age, sex, comorbidities or drug use in the ND cohort. The aHR (95% CI) for adults aged 20-49 years was 2.08 (1.58-2.75), men 2.20 (2.01-2.40). However, older subjects were at greatest risk of pneumonia, (3.41 [2.99-3.88]) if the 20-49 years age group is used as the reference. For the ND and non-ND cohorts, those with comorbidities (with the exception of hyperlipidemia) had higher risk; aHR (95% CI) 2.35 (2.30-2.52). The aHR (95% CI) for those without comorbidities is 3.28 (2.52-4.26). No significant difference was observed in incidence of pneumonia between those who were and were not using statin medications; the aHR (95% CI) was 1.03 (0.93-1.14).ConclusionThe ND cohort had a higher risk of pneumonia, regardless of age, sex, comorbidities or statin use. The risk of pneumonia was higher in elderly and male patients in the ND cohort.

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