Prognosis Of Community-acquired Pneumonia Patients Research Articles

Association of serum interleukin-2 with severity and prognosis in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia: a prospective cohort study.

The prior studies have shown that interleukin-2 (IL-2) exerts important roles in the pathological and physiological processes of lung diseases. However, the role of IL-2 in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is still uncertain. Through a prospective cohort study, our research will explore the correlations between serum IL-2 levels and the severity and prognosis in CAP patients. There were 267 CAP patients included. Blood samples were obtained. Serum IL-2 were tested by enzyme-linkedimmunosorbentassay (ELISA). Demographic traits and clinical characteristics were extracted. Serum IL-2 were gradually elevated with increasing severity scores in CAP patients. Correlation analyses revealed that serum IL-2 were connected with physiological parameters including liver and renal function in CAP patients. According to a logistic regression analysis, serum IL-2 were positively correlated with CAP severity scores. We also tracked the prognostic outcomes of CAP patients. The increased risks of adversely prognostic outcomes, including mechanical ventilation, vasoactive agent usage, ICU admission, death, and longer hospital length, were associated with higher levels of IL-2 at admission. Serum IL-2 at admission were positively associated with severe conditions and poor prognosis among CAP patients, indicated that IL-2 may involve in the initiation and development of CAP. As a result, serum IL-2 may be an available biomarker to guide clinicians in assessing the severity and determining the prognosis of CAP.

Serum SOD1 level predicts the severity and prognosis of community-acquired pneumonia patients

BackgroundSuperoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is one of the most important participants of antioxidant enzyme system in biological system. Previous studies have found that SOD1 is associated with many inflammatory diseases. The goal of this study was to assess the associations of serum SOD1 with the severity and prognosis in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients by a prospective cohort study. MethodsCAP patients were enrolled from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. Peripheral blood samples were gathered. The level of serum SOD1 was detected through enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Clinical characteristics and demographic information were analyzed. ResultsThe level of serum SOD1 was gradually upregulated with elevated CAP severity scores. Spearman correlation coefficient or Pearson rank correlation analyses indicated that serum SOD1 was strongly connected with many clinical parameters among CAP patients. Further linear and logistic regression analyses found that the level of serum SOD1 was positively associated with CRB-65, CURB-65, SMART-COP, and CURXO scores among CAP patients. Moreover, serum higher SOD1 at admission substantially increased the risks of ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, vasoactive agent usage, death, and longer hospital stays during hospitalization. Serum SOD1 level combination with CAP severity scores elevated the predictive abilities for severity and death compared with alone serum SOD1 and CAP severity scores in CAP patients during hospitalization. ConclusionThe level of serum SOD1 is positively associated with the severity and poor prognosis in CAP patients, suggesting that SOD1 is implicated in the initiation and progression of CAP. Serum SOD1 may be regarded as a biomarker to appraise the severity and prognosis for CAP patients.

Longitudinal associations between serum IL-34 with severity and prognosis in community-acquired pneumonia patients

BackgroundInterleukin-34 (IL-34) is a hematopoietic cytokine and a ligand of colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF-1R). Numerous studies have demonstrated that IL-34 is involved in several inflammatory diseases. Nevertheless, the role of IL-34 is obscure in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients. This research aimed to assess the associations of serum IL-34 with severity and prognosis in CAP patients through a longitudinal study. MethodsCAP patients and healthy volunteers were recruited. Peripheral blood samples were collected. Serum IL-34 and inflammatory cytokines were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Demographic characteristics and clinical information were acquired through electronic medical records. ResultsSerum IL-34 was elevated in CAP patients compared with healthy volunteers. The content of serum IL-34 was gradually upregulated with increased CAP severity scores. Mixed logistic and linear regression models suggested that serum IL-34 elevation was associated with increased PSI and SMART-COP scores. Correlative analysis found that serum IL-34 was positively correlated with inflammatory cytokines among CAP patients. A longitudinal study indicated that higher serum IL-34 at admission elevated the risks of mechanical ventilation and death during hospitalization. Serum IL-34 had a higher predictive capacity for death than CAP severity scores. ConclusionThere are prominently positive dose-response associations between serum IL-34 at admission with the severity and poor prognosis, suggesting that IL-34 is implicated in the occurrence and development of CAP. Serum IL-34 may serve as a biomarker to forecast disease progression and poor prognosis in CAP patients.

Longitudinal associations of serum survivin with the severity and prognosis of community-acquired pneumonia patients

BackgroundSurvivin is a member of apoptosis inhibitor proteins that evokes cellular proliferation and inhibits apoptosis. However, the role of survivin in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients remains to be firmly established. The aim of this cohort study was to evaluate the correlations of serum survivin with the severity and prognosis of CAP patients. MethodsThis research included 470 eligible CAP patients. Serum fasting samples were drawn from patients, and serum survivin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Meanwhile, demographic characteristics and clinical information were collected. The prognosis of CAP patients was tracked. ResultsSerum survivin gradually decreased with elevated CAP severity scores. Additionally, the correlative analysis suggested that serum survivin was associated with many clinical characteristics. Furthermore, mixed linear and logistic regression models indicated that serum survivin was negatively associated with severity. After adjusting for confounding factors, logistic regression analyses found that lower serum survivin on admission elevated the risks of mechanical ventilation, vasoactive agent usage, longer hospital stays, ICU admission, and even death during hospitalization. Serum survivin in combination with CAP severity scores elevated the predictive capacities for severity and death in CAP patients compared with a single indicator. ConclusionOn admission, there are inverse dose-response associations of serum survivin with severity and poor prognosis in CAP patients, demonstrating that serum survivin may be involved in the pathophysiology process of CAP. Serum survivin may serve as a potential biomarker for disease evaluation and prognosis in CAP patients.

Serum TRAIL predicts severity and prognosis in patients with community-acquired pneumonia: a prospective cohort study.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) can trigger the apoptosis pathways through binding to relative death receptors. However, the relationship of TRAIL with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) was unclear. This study aims at exploring the relationships between circulatory TRAIL with severity and prognosis in CAP patients through a prospective cohort study. The whole of 239 CAP patients was enrolled. Demographic characteristics and clinical information were analyzed. TRAIL and inflammatory cytokines were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Circulatory TRAIL was gradually increased in accord with CAP severity scores. Spearman or Pearson correlative analysis indicated that circulatory TRAIL was strongly associated with physiologic indicators among CAP patients. Mixed logistic and linear regression models revealed that circulatory TRAIL was positively correlated with the severity scores in CAP patients. After adjusting for confounders, higher levels of circulatory TRAIL on admission significantly elevated the risks of ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, longer hospital stays, or even death during hospitalization. The predictive capacities of serum TRAIL for death were higher compared with CAP severity scores, inflammatory and infectious indicators. There are obviously positive dose-response relationships between circulatory TRAIL on admission with the severity and poor prognostic outcomes in CAP patients. Circulatory TRAIL on admission may be used as a potential biomarker in predicting the severity and poor prognosis for CAP patients.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11739-022-03086-7.

Serum IL-27 predicts the severity and prognosis in patients with community-acquired pneumonia: a prospective cohort study.

Background: The previous studies have revealed that IL-27 was involved in the pathophysiology of pulmonary inflammatory diseases. However, the role of IL-27 in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) was unclear. The goal of this research was to explore the associations of serum IL-27 with the severity and prognosis among CAP patients through a prospective cohort study.Methods: The whole of 239 healthy population and 239 CAP patients were enrolled. Fasting blood samples were collected. Inflammatory cytokines were detected using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Demographic characteristics and clinical information were analyzed.Results: Serum IL-27 on admission was significantly risen in CAP patients compared with control subjects. Besides, serum IL-27 was gradually increased in line with CAP severity scores. Correlative analysis suggested that serum IL-27 was associated with blood routine indices, renal function, liver function, myocardial function and inflammatory cytokines. Linear and logistic regression analyses revealed that serum IL-27 was positively correlated with CAP severity scores. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that serum higher IL-27 on admission elevated the risks of vasoactive agent usage and longer hospital stay during hospitalization among CAP patients.Conclusions: Serum IL-27 is markedly and positively associated with the severity and poor prognosis among CAP patients, indicating that IL-27 may involve in the pathophysiological process of CAP. Serum IL-27 may be used as a biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis in CAP patients.

Serum interleukin-17 predicts severity and prognosis in patients with community acquired pneumonia: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundSome studies previously demonstrated that interleukin-17 (IL-17) involves in pulmonary diseases progression. Nevertheless, the role of IL-17 in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains unknown. This study aims to examine the correlations between serum IL-17 with the severity and prognosis in CAP patients through a prospective cohort study.MethodsAll 239 CAP patients were recruited. Serum IL-17 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The CAP severity was evaluated through CAP severity scores, including CURB-65, CRB-65, PSI, SMART-COP, CURXO and APACHE II.ResultsSerum IL-17 was gradually increased consistent with the severity of CAP. Correlative analysis suggested that serum IL-17 was associated with clinical physiologic indicators among CAP patients. Logistic regression indicated that serum IL-17 was positively related to CAP severity scores. Additionally, the prognostic outcomes were tracked among CAP patients. The levels of IL-17 on admission were significantly increased in CAP patients with ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, vasoactive agent, death and longer hospitalization days. Logistic regression analyses revealed serum higher IL-17 on admission elevated the risks of vasoactive agent usage and longer hospital stays in CAP patients. The cut-off concentrations of serum IL-17 for death, ICU admission, mechanical ventilation and ≥ 14 hospital stays were 86.80 ng/mL, 84.92 ng/mL, 84.92 ng/mL and 60.29 ng/mL respectively.ConclusionsSerum IL-17 on admission is positively associated with the severity and poor prognosis among CAP patients, revealing that IL-17 may implicate in the pathological process of CAP. Therefore, serum IL-17 may become an effective biomarker for diagnosis, prognosis and therapy for CAP patients.

Associations of Serum Resistin With the Severity and Prognosis in Patients With Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

BackgroundResistin is an endogenous ligand of Toll-like receptor 4 that activates several inflammatory signals. But the physiological function of resistin in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains unknown. The goal of this research was to explore the associations between serum resistin and the severity and prognosis in CAP patients through a retrospective cohort study.MethodsAll 212 CAP patients and 106 healthy cases were enrolled. Demographic characteristics were extracted. Serum resistin was determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The prognosis was tracked in CAP patients.ResultsSerum resistin on admission was raised in CAP patients compared with control cases. The level of resistin was gradually increased in parallel with CAP severity scores in CAP patients. Pearson and Spearman analyses revealed that serum resistin was positively correlated with CAP severity scores, white blood cells, urea nitrogen, creatinine, and inflammatory cytokines among CAP patients. There were negative relationships between resistin and hematocrit and albumin in CAP patients. Besides, linear and logistic regression analyses further indicated that serum resistin on admission was positively associated with CAP severity scores among CAP patients. Follow-up research revealed that serum resistin elevation on admission prolonged hospital stay in CAP patients.ConclusionSerum resistin on admission is positively correlated with the severity and hospital stay in CAP patients, indicating that resistin may be involved in the physiological process of CAP. Serum resistin may be a potential biomarker in the diagnosis and prognosis for CAP.

Associations of Serum S100A12 With Severity and Prognosis in Patients With Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BackgroundPrevious studies indicated the calcium-binding protein S100A12 to be involved in the pathophysiology of pulmonary inflammatory diseases. However, the role of S100A12 has remained elusive in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Therefore, the purpose of this prospective cohort study was to evaluate the association between serum S100A12 with severity and prognosis in CAP patients.MethodsTwo groups with either 239 CAP patients or 239 healthy controls were enrolled in our study. Fasting blood and clinical characteristics were collected. On admission, serum S100A12 was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsSerum S100A12 was increased in CAP patients compared to control subjects. Furthermore, serum S100A12 was elevated according to the severity of CAP. Correlative analysis suggested that the level of serum S100A12 was associated with blood routine indices, renal function markers, inflammatory cytokines and other clinical parameters among CAP patients. Additionally, linear and logistical regression analyses indicated that serum S100A12 was positively associated with CAP severity scores in CAP patients. In addition, the association of high serum S100A12 and prognosis was accessed using a follow-up research. Elevated serum S100A12 on admission increased the risk of death and hospital stay in CAP patients during hospitalization.ConclusionsElevated serum S100A12 on admission is positively associated with the severity and adverse prognosis in CAP patients, suggesting that S100A12 may involve in the pathophysiological process of CAP. The titre of serum S100A12 may be used as a biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis among CAP patients.

Accuracy Between CURB-65 Score and PSI in Determining The Prognosis of Community-Acquired Pneumonia Patients at H. Adam Malik General Hospital, Medan

Background: Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) is an important problem associated with morbidity and mortality. An accurate initial assessment is required before starting management of a CAP patient to determine the prognosis of the patient as early as possible. The CURB-65 score and PSI (Pneumonia Severity Index) are initial assessment scores that can be used. This study aimed to compare the accuracy between the CURB-65 score and the PSI in determining the prognosis in CAP patients at H. Adam Malik General Hospital Medan. Method: A descriptive study was conducted on 76 patients diagnosed with CAP. Each patient was assessed for their CURB-65 score, PSI class and mortality within 30 days of admission. Data were collected through patient medical records diagnosed CAP in 2018 and performed statistical analysis using 2x2 tables. Results: The CURB-65 ≥3 score showed accuracy (71.0%), sensitivity (53.8%), and specificity (89,2%). The CURB-65 ≥ 2 score showed accuracy (75.0%), sensitivity (82.1%), and specificity (67.6%). Meanwhile, the Class IV-V PSI showed accuracy (77.6%), sensitivity (87.2%) and specificity (67.6%). Conclusion: The accuracy of the PSI is higher when compared to the CURB-65 score in determining the prognosis of CAP patients at H. Adam Malik General Hospital Medan. Although PSI is more accurate, CURB-65 is simpler, easier and less expensive to use

The Associations of Serum IL-37 With the Severity and Prognosis in Patients With Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BackgroundRecent evidences suggested that IL-37 may participate in the pathophysiology of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Nevertheless, its exact biological role was unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the associations of serum IL-37 with the severity and prognosis in CAP patients based on a retrospective cohort study.MethodsThe whole of 120 healthy subjects and 240 CAP patients were summoned. Peripheral blood was collected and IL-37 was detected using ELISA.ResultsSerum IL-37 was obviously decreased in CAP patients on admission. In addition, serum IL-37 was gradually decreased in parallel with CAP severity scores. Correlative analysis revealed that serum IL-37 was negatively associated with CAP severity scores and inflammatory cytokines. Further logistical regression found that reduction of serum IL-37 augmented the severity of CAP patients. Moreover, the follow-up research was performed in CAP patients. Serum lower IL-37 on admission prolonged the hospital stay in CAP patients. Serum IL-37 combination with PSI and CURB-65 had a stronger predictive capacity for death than IL-37 and CAP severity score alone in CAP patients.ConclusionThere are remarkably negative correlations between serum IL-37 with the severity and prognosis in CAP patients. Serum IL-37 on admission prolongs the hospital stay, demonstrating that IL-37 may involve in the process of CAP. Serum IL-37 may be regarded as a biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis for CAP patients.

Serum 8-iso-PGF2α Predicts the Severity and Prognosis in Patients With Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Many studies have identified the important role of 8-isoprostane (8-iso-PGF2α) in pulmonary diseases. However, the role of 8-iso-PGF2α in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains unclear. Therefore, the main goal was to investigate the correlations of serum 8-iso-PGF2α with the severity and prognosis in CAP patients through a hospital-based retrospective cohort study.Methods: All 220 patients with CAP were enrolled. Demographic information and clinical data were collected. Levels of 8-iso-PGF2α and inflammatory cytokines were detected in serum using ELISA.Results: The levels of 8-iso-PGF2α were gradually increased in parallel with the CAP severity scores. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed a positive association between serum 8-iso-PGF2α and the CAP severity scores. Additionally, serum 8-iso-PGF2α levels were positively correlated with circulating inflammatory cytokines (CRP and TNFα). Serum 8-iso-PGF2α levels were increased in the patients with a longer hospital stay than those with a shorter hospital stay. Additionally, 20 patients died after hospitalization. Dead patients presented a higher serum 8-iso-PGF2α than surviving patients. A subsequent survival analysis revealed that higher serum 8-iso-PGF2α levels positively correlated with the risk of death in patients with CAP.Conclusions: Serum 8-iso-PGF2α levels on admission are positively associated with the severity of CAP patients. Elevated serum 8-iso-PGF2α on admission prolongs hospital stay and increases the risk of death in patients with CAP, indicating that 8-iso-PGF2α may be involved in the progression of CAP and serve as an early serum prognostic biomarker for CAP.

4221 Lower Serum TWEAK Concentration is a Biomarker for Mortality in Community Acquired Pneumonia

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: To determine the relationship among serum concentration of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) and mortality in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: This is a multicenter 2-year cohort study in Spain, designed to better understand the role of sTWEAK concentrations in CAP patients. CAP patients were prospectively enrolled in two University hospitals and sTWEAK was measured within the first 24 hours of ICU admission. Samples were collected and stored for laboratory analyses. To detect sTWEAK in human samples, we used a commercially available ELISA kit following manufacturer’s instructions. Demographic patients’ characteristics and ICU mortality were prospectively collected. Descriptive statistics and logistical regressions were used to assess the proposed aims. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: A total of forty-three patients were included in the study (10 healthy users, 10 uninfected controls and 23 CAP patients). In comparison to healthy volunteers, patients admitted to the hospital (both, infected and non-infected) had lower level of sTWEAK. During hospital admission, 7 (17%) patients died. Patients whom died during ICU stay due to CAP, had significantly lower levels of sTWEAK when comparing with patients whom survived (Median [IQR]; 509.35 [357.49, 953.92] Vs 1103.03 [716.93, 1663.16]; p = 0.015). In contrast, patients that developed shock did not have different concentrations of sTWEAK (Median [IQR]; 1008.04 [531.87, 1390.80] Vs 1062.29 [575.24, 1598.83], p = 0.84). DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the first cause of death in underdeveloped countries. CAP is a pulmonary infection that creates a proinflammatory environment not just locally but also systemically, secondary to upregulation of molecular cascades with a wide variety of proteins being released perpetuating this inflammation and tissue damage. Several of these molecules have been described and linked to a greater risk of inhospital complications, longer length of hospital stay and mortality. TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is a member of the TNF-alpha superfamily, involved in immune response, cell growth, angiogenesis, NF-kB activation and apoptosis induction in tumor cells. It is known that serum-TWEAK plays a role in inflammatory processes, however, its behavior is unknown in patients with CAP. Therefore, this study aims to identify whether there is a relationship between serum concentration of TWEAK and prognosis in CAP patients. To our knowledge, this is the first study to shown that concentration of sTWEAK within the first 24 hours of ICU admission is lower in patients with CAP. Moreover, patients whom died during ICU admission due to CAP, have lower sTWEAK levels. This biomarker may identify patients at higher risk of dying due to CAP and may represent severe CAP. However, further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Analysis of the characteristics of cellular immune function and its prognostic risk factors in patients with community-acquired pneumonia

To analyze the characteristics of cellular immune function and its prognostic risk factors in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The clinical data of patients diagnosed as CAP admitted to department of respiratory and critical care medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from June 2018 to February 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into survival group and death group according to the mortality at discharge and 28-day survival after hospital discharge; in addition, they were divided into bacterial group, fungi group and mixed infection group according to pathogen results at discharge. The differences of general clinical characteristics, arterial blood gas analysis indexes, plasma albumin, cellular immune function, inflammatory cytokines, the length of hospital stay among groups were analyzed. The correlation between the prognosis-related indicators in patients were analyzed by Pearson test or Spearman test, and Logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk factors of patients in non-survival group. 106 patients were finally enrolled, 69 of whom were survived, and 37 dead. Among 56 patients with pathogen results, 27 were diagnosed as bacterial infection, 11 as fungal infection, and 18 with mixed infection. Compared with the survival group, plasma albumin level, total T cell count, CD4+T cell count, CD8+T cell count were decreased in the death group, temperature, pH, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP) were increased, and the length of hospital stay was significantly shortened. While there was no significant difference in gender, age, mean arterial pressure, arterial oxygen pressure, CD4+/CD8+, regulation T cell/effect T cell (TREG/TEF) between the two groups. Correlation analysis showed that plasma albumin, the length of hospital stay, APACHE II score, CD4+T cell count, CD8+T cell count, CD4+/CD8+, PCT, IL-6, CRP were correlated with death (r value was -0.480, -0.209, 0.203, -0.279, -0.270, 0.271, 0.247, 0.410, 0.329, all P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that plasma albumin, CD4+T cell count, CD8+T cell count, CD4+/CD8+decreased; APACHE II score, PCT, IL-6, and CRP increased; the length of hospital stay were correlated with death, and all were independent risk factors for death in CAP patients (all P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the APACHE II score was negatively related to plasma albumin (r = -0.375, P < 0.05), positively related to CRP and IL-6 (r value was 0.363 and 0.333 respectively, both P < 0.05); negative correlation between plasma albumin and IL-6 (r = -0.372, P < 0.05), PCT and CD4+T cell count (r = -0.354, P < 0.05), CRP and the length of hospital stay (r = -0.356, P < 0.05). There were no significant correlations between the others. There was no significant difference in cellular immune function or inflammatory factor expression between different pathogenic infections. Cellular immune dysfunction, hypoproteinemia, APACHE II score and elevated inflammatory index are all influential factors for the death of CAP patients. Apart from conventional anti-infective treatment, the symptoms of hypoproteinemia and cellular immune function can predict the severity and prognosis of CAP patients.

The predictive role of enhanced CURB score in patients with pneumonia during combined immunosuppression treatment

Objective To explore the predictive value of enhanced CURB score in the prognosis of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the setting of immunosuppressive therapy. Methods Retrospective study of 156 CAP patients with diseases treated with immunosuppressive agents admitted from January 2012 to July 2016 was carried out. The patients were divided into survival group and death group, and comparisons of demographics of patients and clinical sitting between two groups were performed. The receiver operator characteristic(ROC) curve was used for the calculations of enhanced CURB score, CURB-65 score and qSOFA score measured to predict the 28-day outcome of patients as the clinical observation endpoint. The predictive value of three scoring systems was compared in the prognosis of CAP patients under immunosuppressive treatment using the area under the curve (AUC). Results Of 156 patients, there were 134 patients in survival group and 22 patients in death group. The statistically significant differences in measured results of three scoring systems between two groups were as follows: enhanced CURB score [8(6, 10) vs. 12(9, 13)], CURB-65 score [1(0, 2) vs. 2(2, 3)], and sSOFA score [0(0, 1) vs. 1(0, 1)] (P<0.05 in 3 scoring systems). According to ROC, the AUC of enhanced CURB score was 0.815, with sensitivity 50%, specificity 97.01%, the optimal cut-off value 11 (P<0.01); the AUC of CURB-65 score was 0.816, with sensitivity 81.82%, specificity 65.67%, the best cut-off value 1 (P<0.01); the AUC of qSOFA score was 0.642, with sensitivity 54.5%, specificity 73.1%, the best cut-off value 0 (P<0.01). There was a significant difference in score between qSOFA score and CURB-65 score, between qSOFA score and enhanced CURB score, but no significant difference between enhanced CURB score and CURB-65 score. Conclusions The enhanced CURB score has preferable predictive value in evaluating the prognosis of CAP patients during immunosuppressive treatment. Though its sensitivity is low, its specificity is superior to CURB-65 score and qSOFA score. Key words: Community-acquired pneumonia; Immunosuppression; CURB-65; Enhanced CURB; qSOFA

Clinical treatment for elderly community-acquired pneumonia and its prognosis analysis

Objective To observe the relationship between clinical medication and the prognosis in elderly community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods A prospective randomized controlled single-blind study in Tianjin Hospital Internal Medicine. A total of 160 elderly patients with CAP were selected from January 2011 and January 2015. According to the computer, patients were randomly divided into treatment group and control group, 80 cases in each group. Treatment group adopted routine treatment and moderate amount of glucocorticoids in combination with a low-dose of diuretic, and the control group only received routine treatment. In two groups of patients, we observed the initial treatment effect, change in pulse oxygen saturation, the rate of invasive test, the incidence of adverse reactions, mortality rate, total hospital stay, etc. Results Compared with control group, the initial treatment was better, the improvement rate in SPO2 was increased, and the rate of invasive test was decreased in treatment group 72 hours after treatment (χ2=6.234, 3.906 and 7.059, respectively, P=0.013, 0.048 and 0.008). After the overall prognosis and outcome analysis, compared with control group, the percentage of patients transferred to the intensive care unit, the mortality rate was decreased (χ2=4.783 and 4.737, P=0.029 and 0.030), hospitalization cost was declined, and the total hospital stay was shorted (χ2=–72.087 and–5.127, both P 0.05). Conclusions Corticosteroids in combination with a low-dose of diuretic for the auxiliary treatment of elderly CAP can reduce the mortality rate, decrease the rate of invasive test, and shorten the duration of hospitalization, with no obvious increase of adverse events, and it help to improve the prognosis of CAP patients. Key words: Pneumonia; Glucocorticoids; Diuretic