Table 3 Factors associated with increased risk of developing lower respiratory tract infections after age 85 years, by multivariate Cox regression analysis
HR (95% CI)
Sociodemographic factors
    Male1.3 (0.90 to 1.9)
    Institutionalised*1.1 (0.72 to 1.7)
    Smoking, current or previous1.9 (1.3 to 2.8)
Functioning
    Severe cognitive impairment, MMSE <191.7 (1.1 to 2.8)
    Disability in daily living†1.6 (1.1 to 2.3)
Comorbidities and medication use
    Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease3.4 (2.3 to 5.0)
    Stroke1.7 (1.1 to 2.7)
    Oral glucocorticosteroid use2.3 (1.0 to 5.0)
    CRP >5 mg/l1.4 (1.0 to 1.9)

  • *Institutionalised refers to nursing or retirement home resident.

  • †Disability in daily living = unable to do any one of nine basic activities of daily living independently, according to the Groningen Activity Restriction Scale.

  • CRP, C reactive protein; HR, hazard ratio; MMSE, Mini-Mental State Examination.