Some epidemiological characteristics of pneumonia in Czechoslovakia and several neighbouring countries from the aspect of mortality rates.
The authors evaluated the dynamics of mortality rates due to pneumonia in Czechoslovakia and several neighbouring countries over the period of 1974 to 1985. The relative risk of death and proportional mortality rates were calculated and epidemiological curves plotted using data provided by the World Health Organization. It is concluded that during the period in question there was no positive change in the dynamics of mortality rates in Czechoslovakia. Particular attention should be paid to persons in the age group of 75 and more years, where the relative risk of death is at least 4 times greater than in the general population.