Risk Factors for Pneumonia
•The risk of getting infected with pneumonia varies according to factors such as:

  1. Age
  2. Pre-existing illnesses and,
  3. Lifestyle conditions. 

Age as risk factor 
•Pneumonia affects people of all ages.
•However adults aged 65 years or older and children younger than 5 years are at greater risk.
•For older patients above 65 years, the risk continues to increase with increasing age.
•Similarly, for children younger than 5 years, the risks is higher for younger ages.


Health associated risk factors
•Hospitalized persons are at a greater risk of contracting pneumonia. The risk is greater for patients in the ICU who require ventilators to aid in their breathing.
•Additionally people with certain medical conditions are usually at a greater risk of contracting pneumonia. These conditions include:

  1. Asthma
  2. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease (COPD)
  3. Chronic Heart diseases
  4. Chronic liver disease
  5. Diabetes
  6. Cystic Fibrosis

•People with weakened immune system such as HIV/AIDs patients and those undergoing chemotherapy and patients that have undergone organ transplants are at a high risk of contracting pneumonia.

•Medications such as immunosuppressive drugs may also make one susceptible to pneumonia infection.

•Notably, transplant patients are usually put on immunosuppressive medication.

•Children that have measles or HIV/AIDS are at higher risk of getting pneumonia.

•Asplenic patients are also at high risk of contracting pneumonia.

 


Lifestyle associated risk factors
•Individuals that live in overcrowded places are at a greater risk.
•Malnutrition is a major risk factor for pneumonia infection. 
•Lifestyle habits such as active smoking or second hand smoke expose individuals to pneumonia infection.  
•Being around infected persons also increases your likelihood of contracting the disease. 
•Heavy alcohol consumption may also be a risk factor since it causes liver damage.