Background:
There is little known about the quality of life (QoL) after hospitalization for Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP). We compared validated QoL indicators in CAP patients with different etiologies.

Methods:
As part of the ongoing Pneumococcal Pneumonia Epidemiology, Urine Serotyping, and Mental Outcomes (PNEUMO) study, we prospectively enrolled hospitalized adults with CAP from >30 hospitals in Spain, France, Italy, Germany, and the UK. QoL of a subset of patients ? 50 years old was assessed with the EuroQOL EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. We report the summary score (Misery Score), with higher scores indicating lower QoL, and the Global Health Score, which is the self-reported health between 0-100, with lower scores indicating lower QoL. All QoL indicators were assessed 2 weeks before admission (retrospectively), at enrollment and 6 months after admission.

Results:
160 patients completed all questionnaires from May 2020 to January 2023. The median age was 70 years (IQR 60-79). The Misery Score increased and the Global Health Score decreased significantly at enrollment compared to two weeks before (both p < 0.05). Both scores returned to baseline after 6 months independently of etiology of CAP.

Conclusion:
CAP is associated with acute deterioration in QoL during the acute phase of illness; however QoL does return to baseline after 6 months, regardless of etiology.