误吸的发生与性别、年龄、种族无关。[7]Huxley EJ, Viroslav J, Gary WR, et al. Pharyngeal aspiration in normal adults and patients with depressed consciousness. Am J Med. 1978;64:564-568.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/645722?tool=bestpractice.com吸入性肺炎的真实发病率很难评估,因为很多情况下,社区获得性肺炎和医院获得性肺炎是误吸所致但并未得到诊断。然而,一些研究表明,吸入性肺炎可能是多达5%-15%的社区获得性肺炎的病因。[8]Baine WB, Yu W, Summe JP. Epidemiologic trends in the hospitalization of elderly Medicare patients for pneumonia, 1991-1998. Am J Public Health. 2001;91:1121-1123.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1446709/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11441742?tool=bestpractice.com[9]Lanspa MJ, Jones BE, Brown SM, et al. Mortality, morbidity, and disease severity of patients with aspiration pneumonia. J Hosp Med. 2013;8:83-90.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3774007/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23184866?tool=bestpractice.com它最常见于医院或疗养院的老年人,特别是那些有吞咽功能障碍、精神状态障碍、神经系统疾病或消化道机械性损害的患者。[4]Lanspa MJ, Peyrani P, Wiemken T, et al. Characteristics associated with clinician diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia: a descriptive study of afflicted patients and their outcomes. J Hosp Med. 2015;10:90-96.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4310822/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25363892?tool=bestpractice.com[7]Huxley EJ, Viroslav J, Gary WR, et al. Pharyngeal aspiration in normal adults and patients with depressed consciousness. Am J Med. 1978;64:564-568.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/645722?tool=bestpractice.com吸入性肺炎是神经系统疾病相关性吞咽障碍患者的最常见死因。[6]Marik PE. Aspiration pneumonitis and aspiration pneumonia. N Engl J Med. 2001;344:665-671.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11228282?tool=bestpractice.com