RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Epidemiological Study on Community Acquired Pneumonia

This research is about pneumonia that people catch in their daily lives, not in a hospital. Doctors call this 'community-acquired pneumonia' (CAP). The study aims to find out how common it is and what things might make someone more likely to get it, especially if they have other health conditions. Researchers will also look at how HIV and other conditions that weaken the immune system affect pneumonia. They will follow patients for six months, collecting information and samples to better understand this lung infection and how it progresses.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

Capnetz Stiftung

Enrolment target

20,000

Start

01 Oct 2002

Estimated completion

01 Jun 2028

Community Acquired Pneumonia

What is this study about?

This study is looking into a common lung infection called 'community-acquired pneumonia' (CAP). This is the type of pneumonia you catch out in the community, not while you're already in a hospital. The medical term for this study is an "epidemiological study," which simply means researchers are looking at patterns of illness in large groups of people.

The main goal is to understand how often people get CAP and what factors might increase their chances of getting it. For example, they're interested in how other health problems a person might have (like diabetes or heart disease) can affect pneumonia. They also want to gather information on how CAP affects people with weakened immune systems, including those with HIV.

The researchers hope that by collecting detailed information from many patients, they can gain a better understanding of this condition. This knowledge could help doctors prevent pneumonia more effectively and provide better care for patients in the future.

Key takeaways

Learn more about pneumonia caught outside hospital.
No new treatments, your doctor provides usual care.
Involves detailed health checks and some samples.
Participation lasts around six months with phone follow-ups.
Helps improve future pneumonia care.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be at least 18 years old. A doctor must also confirm that you have pneumonia that you caught outside of a hospital.

This means a chest X-ray must show signs of a lung infection. Additionally, you should be experiencing at least one of these symptoms: a cough, yellow or green mucus when you cough (sputum), crackling sounds in your lungs when a doctor listens with a stethoscope, or a fever.

You cannot join if you've been in the hospital for more than two days just before your pneumonia was diagnosed. You also can't take part if you've been diagnosed with active tuberculosis in the last two months.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Has a doctor confirmed you have pneumonia that started outside a hospital?
Does your chest X-ray show signs of infection?
Are you experiencing cough, colored mucus, crackling lungs, or a fever?
Have you been in the hospital for less than 48 hours before your pneumonia diagnosis?
Have you not been diagnosed with active tuberculosis in the last two months?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, your journey in the study will last around six months. Initially, you'll have a detailed check-up where doctors will ask about your health history and current medications, and perform a physical exam. They will also look at your routine X-ray results and collect samples, such as blood, urine, and mucus or phlegm from your lungs.

After this initial visit, you'll have two more in-person visits to check your progress and collect more blood samples. These visits will typically happen about 3 and 7 days after you join the study. Then, about 28 days after joining, a researcher will call you to ask about your health and treatment. Finally, around 180 days (about six months) after you started, you'll get another phone call to see how you are doing and check on your overall health status. Importantly, you won't be given any new treatments or medicines because of the study; your doctor will continue treating you as they normally would.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study won't directly improve your pneumonia, as the study doesn't involve new treatments. However, the information you provide will help doctors and researchers understand pneumonia better, potentially leading to improved care for future patients. The main risks involve the discomfort of having blood and other samples collected, similar to routine medical tests. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Medical School Hannover
Verified postcode
Hanover, Germany· Recruiting

Common questions

What is community-acquired pneumonia?

It's a lung infection people catch in their daily lives, outside of hospital settings.

Will I get new medicine in this study?

No, you won't be given any special treatments or medications because of the study. Your doctor will treat you as usual.

How long will I be involved?

Your participation will last about six months in total.

What kind of information will you collect?

We'll ask about your health history, symptoms, and collect samples like blood and urine, similar to tests your doctor might normally do.

Can I leave the study at any time?

Yes, you can choose to leave the study whenever you want, and it won't affect your medical care.

How to find out more

Frank Eberhardt

office@capnetz.de +49-511-532-5927 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.