Characteristics and outcome of study cohort (n=267)
| Characteristic | No (%) |
| Age (years) | |
| Mean (SD) | 65.4 (19.6) |
| Range | 18–97 |
| Age groups (years) | |
| 18–44 | 49 (18) |
| 45–64 | 59 (22) |
| 65–74 | 47 (18) |
| 75–84 | 68 (25) |
| 85+ | 44 (16) |
| Men | 135 (51) |
| Admitted from nursing home | 22 (8) |
| Smoking status | |
| Current | 73 (27) |
| Ex-smoker (>6 months) | 100 (37) |
| Never | 80 (30) |
| Not known | 14 (5) |
| Alcohol consumed | |
| None | 158 (59) |
| <21 units/week | 76 |
| ⩾21 units/week | 15 (6) |
| Not known | 18 |
| Vaccination status | |
| Influenza vaccine (in last 12 months) | 76 (28) |
| Pneumococcal vaccine (in last 10 years) | 39 (14.6) |
| Comorbid illnesses | |
| None | 83 (31) |
| Chronic lung disease | 82 (31) |
| Ischaemic heart disease | 33 (12) |
| Cardiac failure | 12 (5) |
| Cerebrovascular disease | 30 (11) |
| Diabetes mellitus | 22 (8) |
| Dementia | 22 (8) |
| Cancer | 15 (6) |
| Chronic liver disease | 2 (0.7) |
| Antibiotics prior to hospital admission | 104 (39) |
| Amoxycillin | 57 |
| Macrolide | 22 |