Impact of social deprivation on clinical outcomes of adults hospitalised with community-acquired pneumonia in England: a retrospective cohort study

Introduction Socioeconomic deprivation has been associated with an increased incidence of infection and poorer clinical outcomes during influenza pandemics and the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between deprivation and adverse clinical outcomes following hospital admission with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), specifically 30-day all-cause mortality and non-elective hospital readmission. Methods Data from the British Thoracic Society national CAP audit on patients admitted to hospital with CAP in England between 1 December 2018 and 31 January 2019 were linked to patient-level Hospital Episode Statistics data and Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) scores. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the association between deprivation and (a) 30-day mortality and (b) 30-day readmission with p values for trend reported. Age was examined as a potential effect modifier on the effect of IMD quintile on mortality and subsequent subanalysis in those <65 and ≥65 years was performed. Results Of 9165 adults admitted with CAP, 24.7% (n=2263) were in the most deprived quintile. No significant trend between deprivation and mortality was observed (p trend=0.38); however, the association between deprivation and mortality differed by age group. In adults aged<65 years, 30-day mortality was highest in the most deprived and lowest in the least deprived quintiles (4.4% vs 2.5%, aOR 1.83, 95% CI 0.84 to 4.0) with a significant trend across groups (p trend=0.04). Thirty-day readmission was highest in the most deprived quintile (17.1%) with a significant p trend across groups (p trend 0.003). Age-adjusted odds of readmission were highest in the most deprived compared with the least deprived (aOR 1.41, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.73). Conclusions In adults aged<65 years hospitalised with CAP in England, mortality varied inversely with indices of social deprivation. There was also a significant association between deprivation and 30-day readmission. Strategies are required to decrease health inequalities in pneumonia mortality and hospital readmissions associated with deprivation.