肺炎是世界范围内多发而严重的感染性疾病。世界卫生组织在最近的一份简报中指出,在全球发病与死亡最多的12种疾病中,下呼吸道感染(主要是肺炎)被列为第三位。我国对北京等9个城市的1581名60岁以上老年人进行调查显示,常见病中26％为肺炎。据北京医院的一项死因分析表明,肺炎占80岁以上老年人死因的第一位。 Pneumonia is a multiple and severe infectious disease worldwide. In a recent briefing, the World Health Organization said that among the 12 diseases with the highest incidences and deaths in the world, lower respiratory tract infections (mainly pneumonia) were ranked third. Our survey of 1581 elderly over 60 in nine cities including Beijing showed that 26% of common diseases were pneumonia. According to a Beijing hospital analysis of the cause of death, pneumonia accounted for more than 80 years of age the leading cause of death in the elderly.