Wu P.-S.Chang I.-S.Tsai F.-Y.Hsieh Y.-C.PEI-LAN SHAOLUAN-YIN CHANGLI-MIN HUANG2020-12-152020-12-1520098755-6863https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-59949097478&doi=10.1002%2fppul.20969&partnerID=40&md5=e5efbb53041fd889ca90c25a19c4a4e9https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/525614Background: Few studies have investigated the epidemiology and disease burden of childhood pneumonia in Taiwan, a middle-income country Methods: Using Taiwan's National Health Insurance database, we analyzed the annual population-based incidence and mortality rate of hospitalizations due to pneumonia in children under 18 years old from 1997 to 2004 in Taiwan. Results: The average annual incidence of hospitalized pneumonia was 1,240 episodes per 100,000 children in those below 18 years old. For children under 5 years old and for infants, the incidence was 3,965 and 4,984 out of 100,000, respectively Boys were more likely to be affected than girls (male to female risk ratio 1.27, P < 0.001). The disease occurred most frequently in the spring and least frequently in the autumn (P< 0.001). In children below the age of 5 years old, mortality due to pneumonia was 6.7 per 100,000 per year for children and accounted for 4.2% of the total deaths in this population. Conclusions: In Taiwan, pneumonia occurs most frequently in the spring, has an annual incidence of hospitalizations of 3,965 episodes per 100,000 children below the age of 5 years old. It accounts for a mortality rate of 6.7 per 100,000 children in that population, four times that of developed countries (1.6-1.8 episodes per 100,000 children-year). ? 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.[SDGs]SDG3adolescent; article; cause of death; child; child hospitalization; childhood mortality; Chlamydophila pneumoniae; female; Haemophilus influenzae type b; hospital cost; human; incidence; major clinical study; male; Mycoplasma pneumoniae; pneumonia; priority journal; seasonal variation; sex difference; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Taiwan; Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Pneumonia; Taiwanjournal article10.1002/ppul.20969191428912-s2.0-59949097478