Rates of pneumonia among children and adults with chronic medical conditions in Germany

Background: The objective of this study is to evaluate rates of all-cause pneumonia among at-risk and high-risk children and adults in Germany-in comparison with age-stratified healthy counterparts-during the period following the 2006 recommendation for universal immunization of infants with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Methods: Retrospective cohort design and healthcare claims information for 3.4 M persons in Germany (2009-2012) were employed. Study population was stratified by age and risk profile (healthy, at-risk [with chronic medical conditions], and high-risk [immunocompromised]). At-risk and high-risk conditions, as well as episodes of all-cause pneumonia, were identified via diagnosis, procedure, and drug codes. Results and discussion: Rates of all-cause pneumonia were 1.7 (95 % CI 1.7-1.8) to 2.5 (2.4-2.5) times higher among children and adults with at-risk conditions versus healthy counterparts, and 1.8 (1.8-1.9) to 4.1 (4.0-4.2) times higher among children and adults with high-risk conditions. Rates of all-cause pneumonia among at-risk persons increased in a graded and monotonic fashion with increasing numbers of conditions (i.e., risk stacking). Conclusions: An increased risk for all-cause pneumonia in German children and adults with a spectrum of medical conditions persists in the era of widespread pneumococcal vaccination, and pneumonia risk in persons with >= 2 at-risk conditions is comparable or higher than those with high-risk conditions.