Clinical aspects and prognostic factors in elderly patients hospitalised for community-acquired pneumonia

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2001 Jan;20(1):14-9. doi: 10.1007/s100960000413.

Abstract

The aims of this study were to determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the elderly, to identify prognostic factors, and to establish a predictive model for mortality of CAP. Elderly patients with CAP admitted to "Carlos Haya" Hospital in Malaga, Spain, over a 36-month period were included. Multivariate analysis was used to identify prognostic factors from variables present on admission, from which a discrimination rule was constructed to predict mortality. A total of 343 patients were included, with the annual incidence ranging from 16.3 to 28.1 per 1,000 admissions. Most (82.5%) had some kind of accompanying or underlying disease. Clinical presentation was atypical in 87 (25.4%). Microbiological diagnosis was made in 24.5%. There were 49 (14.3%) deaths. The prognostic factors in multivariate analysis on admission were bilateral radiographic infiltrate, a blood urea nitrogen level of more than 7 mmol/l, absence of fever, a respiratory rate of 30/min or more, confusion, and shock. The discriminating rule to predict mortality comprising three or more of these factors was 91.2% specific, with a negative predictive value of 93.4% and an overall accuracy of 86.9%. CAP in the elderly is associated with a high degree of mortality. The discriminating rule incorporating the prognostic factors identified is a powerful predictor of mortality.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Community-Acquired Infections / epidemiology
  • Community-Acquired Infections / mortality
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / blood
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / mortality*
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / physiopathology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Factors
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Survival Analysis