Abstract： Objective To investigate the prognosis and related factors of community acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods From August 2003 to March 2009, 689 CAP cases from 37 hospitals of 23 cities in China were enrolled. The onset information and clinical outcomes in one month of onset were recorded. Pearson Chi-square test and Logistic regression test were performed using the SPSS 12.0 software to identify prognosis-related factors. Results Among 689 patients there were 396 male and 293 female. The median age was (53 19) years old, 247 patients (35.8%) were≥65 years old. Forty four patients died with a fatality rate of 6.4%. Univariate analysis identified 19 risk factors, they were age≥65 years old, smoking, aspiration, use of antimicrobial agents in 3 months, use of immunodepressant in 2 months, heart failure, chronic renal failure, chronic liver disease, eerebrovascular disease, diabetes, emaciation, altered mental status, respiratory rate > 28/min, pulse > 100/min, lower diastolic blood pressure, neutrophil ratio > 0.9, ALT >40 U/L, elevated blood urea nitrogen level and PORT classification ≥Ⅳ. By multivariate analysis, use of antimicrobial agents in 3 months, respiratory rate > 28/min, pulse > 100/min and PORT classifications≥Ⅳ were identified as the independent risk factors for mortality. Conclusions The general fatality rate of CAP is low in China. Use of antimicrobial agents in 3 months, respiratory rate > 28/min, pulse > 100/min and PORT classifications≥Ⅳ are independent risk factors for mortality.