Lower Respiratory Tract Infections Managed in Primary Care in France

Lower respiratory tract infections are a frequent reason for consultation and antibiotic prescribing in primary care. However, nationally representative data describing real-world management in routine practice remain limited in France.

This nationwide retrospective observational study uses anonymized electronic health records from the THIN® France database, a large primary care data warehouse collecting routinely recorded clinical data from general practitioners. The study includes adults aged 18 years and older with a recorded episode of community-acquired lower respiratory tract infection between January 2015 and December 2024.

Each participant contributes a single index episode and is followed for 30 days to assess short-term outcomes. The study period allows the evaluation of management practices over a 10-year timeframe in routine ambulatory care.

The main objective is to describe patients characteristics and real-world management of lower respiratory tract infections in primary care, with a focus on patterns of care, treatment strategies, and short-term outcomes. This study is based exclusively on previously collected anonymized data and does not involve any intervention or change in patient care.

By providing a large-scale overview of routine practice, the study aims to improve understanding of current management approaches and identify potential areas for optimizing antibiotic use in primary care.

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥18 years
• Recorded diagnosis of community-acquired lower respiratory tract infection in primary care between Jan 1, 2015 and Dec 31, 2024
• At least 12 months of medical history available before the index consultation

Exclusion criteria

• Age <18 years
• Less than 12 months of medical data before index date