Characteristics and Outcomes of Cancer Patients Admitted to the Hospital with Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Abstract

Objectives: Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) is associated with high risk of complications in cancer patients. Few studies evaluated hospitalized cancer patients with CAP. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of cancer patients admitted with CAP. Methods: A retrospective study that included patients admitted to King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan with the diagnosis of CAP (January 2021-August 2022). CAP was defined based on the Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines criteria. Patients' characteristics, microbiological cultures, length of hospital stay, transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU), and all-cause mortality were recorded. We also assessed early clinical stability, defined as temperature ≤37.8°C, heart rate ≤100/min, respiratory rate ≤24/min, systolic blood pressure ≥90mmHg, and oxygen saturation ≥90% at room air on the third day of admission. Results: We evaluated 632 cancer patients admitted with CAP. The mean age was 60 (±13.9 SD) years; 55% were males, breast cancer was the most prevalent malignancy (23%) and 49% had received cancer-related treatment within 2 months. Positive blood and sputum cultures were detected in 12% and 30% of the patients, respectively. Early clinical stability was achieved in 49% of the patients, and 89% were discharged home after a median of 6 days (range: 1-48) in the hospital. Among the included patients, 3% required ICU transfer and 11% died. Conclusions: Early clinical stability was achieved in about half the patients and the majority were discharged home. Future research should be conducted to identify interventions to improve clinical outcomes of CAP in cancer patients.