Objective To study the value of chronic diseases for early predicrion of pulmonary infection induced multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in the elderly (MODSE). Methods Medical record data from 393 retired veteran cadres aged over 60 years,living in Shijiazhuang region,were analyzed retrospectively,who were hospitalized due to pulmonary infection or suffered pulmonary infection during hospitalization in Bethune International Peace Hospital from January 2001 to December 2006. They were divided into MODSE and non-MODSE groups.χ2 test for fourfold table was used to analyze the difference in morbidity of chronic diseases between the two groups. Binary Logistic stepwise regression model was used to screen the chronic diseases with high risk of MODSE. Results Single factor analysis showed that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,chronic respiratory failure,pulmonary fibrosis,pulmonary heart disease,coronary heart disease,chronic cardiac insufficiency,cerebrovascular disease,cervical spondylosis,chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis,diabetes,hyperuricemia,chronic renal failure and malignant tumor affected the morbidity of MODSE. Binary Logistic stepwise regression showed that chronic cardiac insufficiency,cerebrovascular disease,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,chronic respiratory failure,pulmonary heart disease,pulmonary fibrosis,diabetes,chronic renal failure and malignant tumor were the high risk chronic diseases. Conclusion Chronic cardiac insufficiency,cerebrovascular disease,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,chronic respiratory failure,pulmonary heart disease,pulmonary fibrosis,diabetes,chronic renal failure and malignant tumor are valuable in early prediction of MODSE induced by pulmonary infection.