Background & Aim: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in adults even in developed countries. The annual incidence of CAP in adults in Europe is between 1.07 and 1.2 per 1,000 person/year. The aim of this study is to assess the incidence of CAP in primary care adults in Spain.

Method: Retrospective observational study in adults (>18 years-old) with CAP diagnosed and attended at primary care in Spain between 2009-2013, using the National Surveillance System of Primary Care Data (BiFAP).

Results: 28.413 patient records were retrieved and analysed. Global incidence of CAP in adults was estimated at 4.63 per 1000 persons/year. CAP incidence increased progressively with age, ranging from a 1.98 at 18-20 years of age to 23.74 in patients above 90 years of age. According to gender, global CAP incidence was slightly higher in males (5.04) than females (4.26): CAP incidence from 18 to 65 years-old up was comparable between males (range: 2.18-5.75) and females (range: 1.47-5.21), whereas from 65 years of age, CAP incidence was noticeable higher in males (range: 7.06-36.93) than in females (range: 5.43-19.62).

Conclusions: Annual incidence of adult CAP in primary care in Spain is higher than that reported for Europe. CAP incidence is comparable between males and females up to 65 years of age, but clearly increases in males from that age.

Keywords: Community acquired pneumonia, Incidence, Primary care