Summary
Description of a cohort of low-risk patients with community-acquired pneumonia admitted to a university hospital
García Vázquez E, Soto S, Hernández-Torres A, Herrero JA, Gómez Jiménez J
Affiliation of the authors
Servicio de Medicina Interna-Infecciosas. Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca. Murcia, Spain. Servicio de Nefrología. Hospital Méndez Álvarez de Lorca. Murcia, Spain.
DOI
Quote
García Vázquez E, Soto S, Hernández-Torres A, Herrero JA, Gómez Jiménez J. Description of a cohort of low-risk patients with community-acquired pneumonia admitted to a university hospital. Emergencias. 2010;22:275-81
Summary
Objectives: The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics of low risk patients
with Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) admitted at a university hospital, to
compare those who are older and younger than 65 year old and to compare those in
low-risk groups ( III) with those in high-risk groups (> III).
Patients and Methods: Observational and retrospective study of low-risk patients with
CAP admitted at a tertiary hospital. Epidemiological, clinical and outcome data were
recorded.
Results: Ninety nine (46.9%) out of 211 patients with CAP were classified in Fine
categories I, II and III (26, 33 and 40 respectively); 99 (100%) were hospitalised in
general medical wards. Mean age was 50 years (range, 13 to 85 years), and a coexisting
condition was present in 32% patients. More frequent physical-examination findings
were systolic blood pressure < 90 mmgHg (8%), pulse > 125/min (7%) and respiratory
rate 30/min (6%). More prevalent laboratory and radiological findings were pO2 < 60 mmHg (26%), pleural effusion (9%) and glucose 250 mg/dl (8%); 1 patient (1%) in group III died. Mean hospital stay was 6 days (range, 1 to 24 days). There were statistically significant differences in all variables included in Fine score (more frequent in high-risk patients) except for liver disease, low systolic blood pressure, high heat rate, temperature abnormalities, pleural effusion, low sodium and hematocrit figures; within low-risk patients < or >65 year-old there were not statistically significant differences
except in the rate of COPD (9.7% vs 25.6%).
Conclusions: out of all admitted patients with CAP, 46% were low-risk patients
according to Fine score; there were not statistically significant differences in relation to
age group (>/< 65 year old) except in the rate of COPD and there were differences in some but not all of the variables in Fine-score in patients in low-risk groups compare to those in high risk-groups.