Predictors of Long-term Outcomes in the Older Adults with Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

We aimed to determine the indicators for poor long-term outcome in older adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Patients with CAP requiring hospitalization were included in this retrospective study. The long-term mortality was defined as all-cause 1-year mortality following hospital admission. A total of 145 patients with CAP were recorded. The median age was 70 (18-103), of whom 94 (65%) were ≥ 65 years old and 86 (59.5%) were male. Long-term mortality rates following CAP requiring hospitalization were substantially high in both the younger (n = 16, 31.4%) and older adults (n=43, 45.7%). In univariate analysis, the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) (p = 0.007), mechanical ventilation (p > 0.001), mental status changes (p = 0.018) as well as the modified Charlson Comorbidity Index (p=0.001), presence of malignancy (p < 0.001) and hospital readmission (p < 0.001) were associated with long-term mortality in the older group. Our results revealed that the need for mechanical ventilation (OR = 47.61 CI = 5.38-500.0, p = 0.001) and hospital readmission (OR = 15.87 CI = 5.26-47.61, p < 0.001) were major independent predictors of 1-year mortality. Clinicians should consider the lethal possibilities of CAP even after hospital discharge. The need for mechanical ventilation and hospital readmission may predict long-term mortality. Therefore, the patients who have these predictors should be closely monitored.

Copyright (c) 2021 Serkan Surme, Ilker Inanc Balkan, Osman Faruk Bayramlar, Ritvan Kara Ali, Bilgul Mete, Fehmi Tabak, Nese Saltoglu.

No Conflict of Interest is declared