Hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) can lead to long-term health problems that persist months after discharge, according to new research published in BMC Infectious Diseases.

The study followed 296 adults aged 50 and older for six months after hospitalization for CAP between 2018 and 2020. Researchers found that the impact of pneumonia extends far beyond the initial respiratory infection — affecting work, daily functioning, thinking ability and overall well-being.

Employment was hit the hardest. Among patients with community-acquired pneumonia who worked before their illness, 59% experienced job loss within six months. More than half of those who were fully employed became unemployed.

Day-to-day functioning also declined. Nearly 13% lost the ability to perform at least one basic activity like bathing or eating, while 23% could no longer manage tasks such as preparing meals or handling finances.

Cognitive impairment was common, affecting 42% of patients at six months. That included 38% of those under age 60 who had no previous diagnosis of dementia.

Nearly 1 in 4 patients reported a decline in quality of life compared to before being diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia.

The study identified several risk factors linked to worse outcomes: lower pre-illness functioning, poor baseline quality of life, fewer years of education and tobacco use. Women and those with pre-existing dementia were also more vulnerable. Patients who experienced delirium during hospitalization faced especially poor functional outcomes.

The authors concluded that “adult patients hospitalized for CAP suffered from significant morbidity at 6 months after discharge.”

They emphasized that “strategies are needed to prevent or mitigate these adverse outcomes, especially among those at higher risk.” They also called for additional research to develop interventions that reduce long-term effects of community-acquired pneumonia.