Pneumonia Presentations and Outcomes: A Tertiary Care Emergency Department Experience

Background Pneumonia is a common respiratory infection presenting significant management challenges in the Emergency Department (ED). The study aimed to assess the clinical characteristics and outcomes of admitted patients with pneumonia through the Emergency Department of a Tertiary Care Center. Methods A retrospective review study was conducted between November 2023 to November 2024. Adult patients (≥ 18 years) admitted with a primary diagnosis of pneumonia were included. Demographics, clinical presentation, comorbidities, and outcomes were analyzed. Result A total of 857 patients diagnosed with pneumonia and admitted via the emergency department were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 67.3 years (± 18.9), and gender distribution was approximately equal with 428 males (50%) and 429 females (50%). Hypertension (59%), diabetes mellitus (55%), and chronic heart disease (37%) were the most common comorbidities. Regarding the clinical presentation, the most frequently reported symptoms in patients were cough (69%), shortness of breath (60%) and fever (54%). The overall average length of hospital stay was 11.5 days (± 14.9). ICU admissions represented only (9%) of the sample with an average stay of 15.8 days (± 21.8), and the in-hospital mortality rate was (8%). Conclusion Pneumonia admissions were common among older patients with significant comorbidities. Despite this burden, ICU admission and mortality rates were lower than those reported in prior literature, suggesting effective triage and management. Multi-center studies are warranted to validate these findings.