Prognostic factors in elderly patients admitted to the intensive care unit with community-acquired pneumonia.

Objective: We aimed to determine the clinical, radiological and laboratory findings that may indicate poor prognosis in severe community acquired pneumonia (CAP) requiring intensified care to reduce the risk of death.

Methods: The medical histories, demographic characteristics and laboratory values of over 65 years old patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and diagnosed with CAP were recorded.

Results: Total of 86 patients were included in the study. Among those patients 39 were discharged from the ICU with health but 47 were expired. Diastolic blood pressure was significantly lower in expired patients ( = 0.044). In multivariate analysis, older age (>78 years) ( = 0.004), at admission elevated blood glucose (>108 mg/dL) levels ( = 0.048), decreased serum albumin (<3.5 g/dL) levels ( = 0.043), elevated serum procalcitonin levels (>0.63 μg/L) ( = 0.034) and in blood gas analysis decreased pH (<7.35) ( = 0.042)and increased lactate (>2mmol/L) ( = 0.001) were the significant risk factors for in-ICU mortality.

Conclusions: At old age, blood glucose and procalcitonin levels increased at the time of admission, serum albumin levels decreased, pH decreased in blood gas analysis and lactate levels increased, and significant mortality determinants in CAP patients over 65 years of age who applied to the intensive care unit.