Which of the following factors does not increase the risk of mortality in patients with bacterial pneumonia?

The correct answer is based on understanding various risk factors associated with mortality in bacterial pneumonia. Hypertension, while a serious health condition, does not have the same direct correlation with mortality in bacterial pneumonia as the other factors listed.

Alcoholism significantly increases the risk of mortality because it can lead to impaired immune function, making it more difficult for the body to fight off infections like pneumonia. Similarly, age is a critical factor, with both very young children and the elderly being at higher risk due to their potentially compromised immune systems. Multiple lobar involvement refers to pneumonia that affects several lobes of the lungs, which can lead to more severe disease and consequently a higher risk of death as it indicates a greater extent of infection and more significant pulmonary compromise.

Hypertension, while related to a variety of health issues, does not inherently compromise the immune response or result in the same vulnerability to infection as the other factors do. Thus, it is not considered a direct risk factor for increased mortality specifically in the context of bacterial pneumonia.