Prediction of requirement for mechanical ventilation in community-acquired pneumonia with acute respiratory failure: a multicenter prospective study.

Background: Several severity scoring systems for predicting mortality are established in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Objectives: The predictability of the aggravation such as requirement for mechanical ventilation in addition to mortality was examined in CAP patients with acute respiratory failure by using the age, dehydration, respiratory failure, orientation disturbance and blood pressure (A-DROP) scoring system which was proposed by the Japanese Respiratory Society.

Methods: This study was a prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study.