CHRONIC LUNG DISEASE
AND PNEUMOCOCCAL
PNEUMONIA
If you’re living with chronic lung disease, you may be at greater risk for pneumococcal pneumonia compared to other healthy individuals.1
Understand your risk
Patients with chronic lung disease (eg, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) may have weaker lung defenses, making it harder for them to defend against serious respiratory diseases such as pneumococcal pneumonia.1-3
Compared to healthy individuals in the same age range, people living with chronic lung disease are at higher risk for pneumococcal pneumonia.1 If you’re living with more than one condition, your risk may be even higher.1
Estimated risk of infection†1
†Compared to healthy individuals in the same age range
Take the risk assessment
Answer a few questions to assess your risk for pneumococcal pneumonia and discuss them with your doctor.
What is your age?
Even if you are healthy, older age can be a risk factor for pneumococcal pneumonia.4,5
| 18 years and under |
| 19–34 years |
| 35–49 years |
| 50–64 years |
| 65 years and older |
Next: Your health conditions
Do you have any chronic health conditions?
Certain conditions may put you at higher risk for pneumococcal pneumonia, even if they’re under control.1,5-7 Select all that apply.
| Asthma |
| Chronic lung disease (eg, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) |
| Chronic heart disease |
| Diabetes |
| Chronic renal failure |
| Cancers (eg, hematological cancers, pancreatic cancer, and lung cancer) |
| Non-functioning spleen (asplenia) |
| Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection |
| I do not have any of these conditions |
Are you taking any medicines that suppress your immune system? This includes some medicines that treat psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis, among others.8
| Yes I’m taking medicines that suppress my immune system |
| No Not taking any medicines that suppress my immune system |
Back Next: Check your risk assessment results
Your risk assessment results for pneumococcal pneumonia
Talk to your doctor about protecting against pneumococcal pneumonia.
References
- American Lung Association. Get the facts about pneumococcal pneumonia. Available at: www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia/pneumococcal. Accessed Jul 2023.
- Fores F, Roche N, Blasi F. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2017;12:3457-3468.
- Kumar V. Front Immunol 2020;11:1722.
- National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. What is pneumococcal disease? Available at: www.nfid.org/infectious-disease/pneumococcal/. Accessed Jul 2023.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pneumococcal disease: Risk factors & how it spreads. Available at: www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/about/risk-transmission.html. Accessed Jul 2023.
- Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. List. Risk conditions for pneumococcal disease. Available at: immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/resources/tables/list-risk-conditions-for-pneumococcal-disease. Accessed Jul 2023.
- Shea KM et al. Open Forum Infect Dis 2014;1:ofu024.
- American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. Immunosuppressive medication for the treatment of autoimmune disease. Available at: www.aaaai.org/conditions-treatments/related-conditions/immunosuppressive. Accessed Jul 2023.