血清血管生成素-2与老年人社区获得性肺炎严重程度的相关性研究

目的:探讨血清血管生成素-2(Ang-2)在老年社区获得性肺炎(CAP)患者中的表达,并评估其与CAP严重程度的相关性。方法:采用病例对照研究,选取老年CAP住院患者共118例,根据病情严重程度将所有患者分为普通肺炎组(67例)和重症肺炎组(51例),同时选取40例老年无肺炎健康体检者作为对照组。检测血清Ang-2、白...     

Influence of prior pneumococcal and influenza vaccination on outcomes of older adults with community-acquired pneumonia

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether prior pneumococcal and seasonal influenza vaccination improves outcomes in older adults hospitalized for community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP). DESIGN: Prospective, observational, multicenter study. SETTING: Five public hospitals providing universal free care to the whole population in three Spanish regions. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 65 and older admitted to the hospital with CAP through the emergency department. MEASUREMENTS: Pneumococcal and influenza vaccination status. The primary study outcomes were intensive care unit (ICU) admission, length of hospital stay (LOS), and overall case‐fatality rate. Outcome variables of individuals vaccinated with both vaccines were compared with outcomes of those who were unvaccinated. RESULTS: Two hundred thirty‐eight individuals had received 23‐valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine and seasonal influenza vaccination and were compared with 195 unvaccinated individuals. No differences were found with respect to combined antibiotic therapy between groups (38.0% vs 39.7%; P=.80). Similar percentages of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals required ICU admission (7.2% vs 8.2%; P=.69). Mean LOS was significantly shorter in vaccinated individuals (9.9 vs 12.4 days; P=.04). Overall case‐fatality rates were similar in both groups (5.9% vs 5.1%; P=.73). After adjustment, LOS, risk of ICU admission, and overall case‐fatality rate were not associated with prior pneumococcal and seasonal influenza vaccination. CONCLUSION: The clinical outcomes of vaccinated older adults hospitalized with CAP were not better than those observed in unvaccinated individuals.     

老年社区获得性肺炎住院患者的临床资料分析

目的总结老年社区获得性肺炎（CAP）患者的临床表现、病原学及预后相关资料。方法回顾性分析2002年1月-2006年1月中山大学附属第三医院收治的成人CAP患者的临床资料,比较老年CAP患者（年龄〉65岁）与中青年CAP患者（年龄≤65岁）临床特征的异同。结果成人CAP患者302例,年龄（68±21）岁。老年CAP患者216例,其中67．1％的患者合并基础疾病,175例（81．0％）患者在Fine危险分级Ⅳ～Ⅴ级,住院病死率为12．0％。肺炎链球菌仍是老年CAP患者最主要的致病菌。与86例中青年CAP患者相比,老年CAP患者入院时出现呼吸困难、急性意识障碍、心率增快及呼吸急促的比例明显增多,病原体分布与中青年CAP患者存在差异。结论老年CAP患者发病率高、并发症多、预后差。临床表现、病原学具有其特殊性,应予足够重视。     

Pneumonia: still the old man's friend?

BACKGROUND: Hospital mortality of patients admitted with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has been well described. However, the long-term survival of those discharged alive is less clear. We sought to determine long-term survival of patients hospitalized with CAP and compare the outcome with controls hospitalized for reasons other than CAP. METHODS: We performed a matched case-control analysis using the Medicare hospital discharge database from the first quarter of 1997. We compared all Medicare recipients 65 years or older hospitalized with CAP and controls matched for age, sex, and race hospitalized for reasons other than CAP. We measured 1-year mortality determined from the Medicare Beneficiary Entitlement file and the Social Security Administration. RESULTS: We identified 158 960 CAP patients and 794 333 hospitalized controls. Hospital mortality rates for the CAP cohort and hospitalized controls were 11.0% and 5.5%, respectively (P<.001). One-year mortality rates for the CAP cohort and hospitalized controls were 40.9% and 29.1%, respectively (P<.001). One-year mortality rates in hospital survivors of the CAP and control cohorts were 33.6% and 24.9%, respectively (P<.001). The difference in mortality between the CAP and control cohorts was not explained by underlying disease. Standardized against the general population, the risk of death for both cohorts decreased monthly but was still elevated 1 year after hospital discharge. The standardized mortality ratio was 2.69 (95% confidence interval, 2.47-2.93) for CAP patients and 1.93 (95% confidence interval, 1.79-2.08) for hospital controls. CONCLUSIONS: Almost half of all elderly patients admitted for CAP die in the subsequent year, with most deaths occurring after hospital discharge. The mortality is considerably higher than that of either the general population or a control population hospitalized for reasons other than CAP.     

Community‐acquired pneumonia in older patients: Does age influence systemic cytokine levels in community‐acquired pneumonia?

Background and objective:   Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a major cause of death in the elderly. The age-related increase in comorbid illnesses plays a part but the effect of aging on the immune response may be equally important. We aimed to evaluate patients with CAP for evidence of a muted response to infection in elderly patients admitted to hospital compared with a younger patient group.
Methods:   Patients with CAP admitted through the Emergency Department were recruited for this prospective observational study. Clinical data were collected at presentation. Severity of pneumonia was assessed using the British Thoracic Society confusion, urea nitrogen, respiratory rate, blood pressure (CURB) score, the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) and the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) definition. IL-6 and IL-10 levels were measured within 24 h of admission.
Results:   Eighty patients were included in the study, of whom 38 (48%) were female. The median age was 74 years (range 18–95). Patients greater than 65 years of age had a lower incidence of chest pain and a higher incidence of altered mental status on presentation. CURB score and PSI were higher in the older patients. SIRS showed similar frequencies in both groups. IL-6 and IL-10 levels were similar in young (< 65 years), older (> 65 years) and very elderly (> 80 years) patients. This finding was not altered by severity of pneumonia.
Conclusions:   Age does not diminish the severity of illness scores in patients with CAP. There was no blunting of the systemic cytokine response with advanced age in this study.     

Role of 'atypical pathogens' among adult hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia

Background and objective: Agents such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila are recognized as important causes of community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) worldwide. This study examined the role of these ‘atypical pathogens’ (AP) among adult hospitalized patients with CAP. Methods: A prospective, observational study of consecutive adult CAP (clinico‐radiological diagnosis) patients hospitalized during 2004–2005 was conducted. Causal organisms were determined using cultures, antigen testing and paired serology. Clinical/laboratory/radiological variables and outcomes were compared between different aetiologies, and a clinical prediction rule for AP was constructed. Results: There were 1193 patients studied (mean age 70.8 ± 18.0 years, men 59.3%). Causal organisms were identified in 468 (39.2%) patients: ‘bacterial’ (48.7%), ‘viral’ (26.9%), ‘AP’ (28.6%). The AP infections comprised Mycoplasma or Chlamydophila pneumoniae (97.8%) and co‐infection with bacteria/virus (30.6%). The majority of AP infections involved elderly patients (63.4%) with comorbidities (41.8%), and more than one‐third of patients were classified as ‘intermediate’ or ‘high’ risk CAP on presentation (pneumonia severity index IV–V (35.1%); CURB‐65 2–5 (42.5%)). Patients with AP infections had disease severities and outcomes similar to patients with CAP due to other organisms (oxygen therapy 29.1% vs 29.8%; non‐invasive ventilation 3.7% vs 3.3%; admission to the intensive care unit 4.5% vs 2.7%; length of hospitalization 6 day vs 7 day; 30‐day mortality: 2.2% vs 6.0%; overall P > 0.05). Age <65 years, female gender, fever ≥38.0°C, respiratory rate <25/min, pulse rate <100/min, serum sodium >130 mmol/L, leucocyte count <11 × 10⁹/L and Hb < 11 g/dL were features associated with AP infection, but the derived prediction rule failed to reliably discriminate CAP caused by AP from bacterial CAP (area under the curve 0.75). Conclusions: M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae as single/co‐pathogens are important causes of severe pneumonia among older adults. No reliable clinical indicators exist, so empirical antibiotic coverage for hospitalized CAP patients may need to be considered.     

Environmental Risk Factors for Community-Acquired Pneumonia Hospitalization in Older Adults

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the risk of hospitalization for pneumonia in older adults in relation to biophysical environmental factors.
DESIGN: Population-based case control study with collection of personal interview data.
SETTING: Hamilton, Ontario, and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
PARTICIPANTS: Seven hundred seventeen people aged 65 and older hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) from September 2002 to April 2005 and 867 controls aged 65 and older randomly selected from the same communities as the cases.
MEASUREMENTS: Odds ratios (ORs) for risk of pneumonia in relation to environmental and other variables.
RESULTS: Exposure to secondhand smoke in the previous month (OR=1.73, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.04–2.90); poor nutritional score (OR=1.83, 95% CI=1.19–2.80); alcohol use per month (per gram; OR=1.69, 95% CI=1.08–2.61); history of regular exposure to gases, fumes, or chemicals at work (OR=3.69, 95% CI=2.37–5.75); history of regular exposure to fumes from solvents, paints, or gasoline at home (OR=3.31, 95% CI=1.59–6.87); and non-English language spoken at home (OR=5.31, 95% CI=2.60–10.87) were associated with a greater risk of pneumonia hospitalization in multivariable analysis. Age, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive lung disease, dysphagia, renal disease, functional status, use of immunosuppressive disease medications, and lifetime history of smoking of more than 100 cigarettes were other variables associated with hospitalization for pneumonia.
CONCLUSION: In elderly people, present and past exposures in the physical environmental are associated with hospitalization for CAP.     

Admission characteristics predicting longer length of stay among elderly patients hospitalized for decompensated heart failure

BACKGROUND: Acutely decompensated heart failure (HF) has become the leading cause of hospitalization for people aged 65 or older. Hospital length of stay (LOS) is a key determinant of higher hospitals costs. The aim of our study is to identify the admission characteristics that predict a longer LOS for elderly patients admitted for an acute exacerbation of HF. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 324 patients (65 years of age or older), who were consecutively admitted for decompensated HF to a tertiary teaching hospital. Variables present at the time of emergency room evaluation that could predict a longer hospital LOS were determined by comparing the characteristics of patients hospitalized for less than 4 days with those of patients needing a longer stay. RESULTS: There were 191 women (59%) and 133 men in the study, with an average age of 78.6 years and a mean LOS of 7.1 days. Multivariate regression models identified two independent predictors of a hospital stay longer than four days: female gender (p=0.03, OR 1.645, 95% CI 1.047-2.584) and poorer NYHA functional class (p<0.01, OR 1.699, 95% CI 1.135-2.542). CONCLUSION: In elderly patients admitted for decompensated HF, the female gender and a worse functional class at the time of admission were associated with a longer subsequent LOS.     

Community-acquired legionella pneumonia in elderly patients: characteristics and outcome

OBJECTIVES: To compare the risk factors, clinical and laboratory features, and outcome of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) caused by Legionella pneumophila in elderly (aged > or =65) and younger patients. DESIGN: Prospective enrollment of subjects with retrospective data analysis. SETTING: A 630-bed tertiary center in Badalona (Barcelona), Spain. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 158 patients diagnosed with CAP caused by L. pneumophila from 1994 to 2004: 104 younger than 65 and 54 aged 65 and older. MEASUREMENTS: Epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and radiological data and the outcome of the two groups were compared using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Underlying diseases, such as chronic pulmonary diseases, diabetes mellitus, neuromuscular diseases, and heart failure; risk of aspiration; and therapy with corticosteroids were significantly more frequent in patients aged 65 and older. Patients younger than 65 were more likely to be male and have toxic habits (cigarette smoking, alcoholism) and human immunodeficiency virus infection than older patients. Fever, nonrespiratory symptoms (diarrhea and headache), and some laboratory abnormalities (hyponatremia (serum sodium concentration <130 mmol/L) and high aspartate aminotransferase and creatinine kinase levels) were significantly less frequent in patients aged 65 and older than in younger patients. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in the frequency of higher-severity risk classes and intensive care unit admission or in outcome (complications and mortality). CONCLUSION: Elderly patients with CAP caused by L. pneumophila had a higher frequency of underlying comorbidities and presented less frequently with fever and classical nonrespiratory symptoms and laboratory abnormalities of Legionnaires' disease than younger patients, although greater severity of illness at onset and higher mortality were not significantly different between the two age groups.     

Epidemiology and outcomes of health-care-associated pneumonia: results from a large US database of culture-positive pneumonia

CONTEXT: Traditionally, pneumonia developing in patients outside the hospital is categorized as community acquired, even if these patients have been receiving health care in an outpatient facility. Accumulating evidence suggests that health-care-associated infections are distinct from those that are truly community acquired. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the microbiology and outcomes among patients with culture-positive community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), health-care-associated pneumonia (HCAP), hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).Design and setting: A retrospective cohort study based on a large US inpatient database. PATIENTS: A total of 4,543 patients with culture-positive pneumonia admitted into 59 US hospitals between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2003, and recorded in a large, multi-institutional database of US acute-care hospitals (Cardinal Health-Atlas Research Database; Cardinal Health Clinical Knowledge Services; Marlborough, MA).Main measures: Culture data (respiratory and blood), in-hospital mortality, length of hospital stay (LOS), and billed hospital charges. RESULTS: Approximately one half of hospitalized patients with pneumonia had CAP, and > 20% had HCAP. Staphylococcus aureus was a major pathogen in all pneumonia types, with its occurrence markedly higher in the non-CAP groups than in the CAP group. Mortality rates associated with HCAP (19.8%) and HAP (18.8%) were comparable (p > 0.05), and both were significantly higher than that for CAP (10%, all p < 0.0001) and lower than that for VAP (29.3%, all p < 0.0001). Mean LOS varied significantly with pneumonia category (in order of ascending values: CAP, HCAP, HAP, and VAP; all p < 0.0001). Similarly, mean hospital charge varied significantly with pneumonia category (in order of ascending value: CAP, HCAP, HAP, and VAP; all p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The present analysis justified HCAP as a new category of pneumonia. S aureus was a major pathogen of all pneumonias with higher rates in non-CAP pneumonias. Compared with CAP, non-CAP was associated with more severe disease, higher mortality rate, greater LOS, and increased cost.     

高龄重症社区获得性肺炎并心血管事件患者预后不良因素分析

目的:分析高龄重症社区获得性肺炎(CAP)合并心血管事件患者预后不良因素,探讨临床诊疗策略。方法:将116例高龄重症CAP并发心血管事件患者按照住院30d内的预后分为治愈出院组(54例)和预后不良组(62例)。分析2组患者性别、年龄、入院时CURB65评分(包括意识障碍、尿素氮、呼吸频率、血压、年龄)、肺炎严重指数(PSI评分)及CRB65评分(包括意识障碍、呼吸频率、血压、年龄)、重症肺炎评判主要标准及次要标准构成情况、住院前心血管事件发生史、住院期间心血管事件类别、辅助治疗措施、初始疗效、并发症情况等,将组间差异有统计学意义的指标纳入多因素Logistic回归分析,分析高龄重症CAP并心血管事件患者预后不良的危险因素。结果:住院期间新发心律失常47例(40. 52%)、急性心肌梗死33例(28. 45%)、心绞痛21例(18. 10%)、急性心力衰竭15例(12. 93%)。2组患者年龄、入院时CURB65评分、PSI评分、CRB65评分、住院前心血管事件发生史、住院期间心血管事件类别、初始疗效比较,差异有统计学意义(均P 0. 05)。多因素Logistic分析显示,年龄(OR=4. 156)、入院时CURB65评分5分(OR=3. 632)、PSIⅤ级(OR=4. 589)、CRB65评分4分(OR=2. 445)、住院前有心血管事件史(OR=4. 625)、住院期间发生急性心肌梗死(OR=4. 514)、初始治疗无效(OR=3. 422)为高龄重症CAP并发心血管事件患者预后不良的危险因素。结论:高龄重症CAP并发心血管事件患者预后不良率高,临床应采取措施加以防范,降低不良事件风险率,改善患者预后。     

降钙素原在老年社区获得性肺炎的临床应用价值

目的评价降钙素原(PCT)在老年社区获得性肺炎(CAP)的临床应用价值。方法以124例老年CAP为研究对象,观察不同严重程度老年CAP患者PCT变化情况,研究PCT与肺炎严重指数(PSI)及CURB-65评分相关性,并比较不同病原体引起CAP患者PCT的检测情况。结果重症肺炎组、普通肺炎组及对照组PCT均有统计学差异(P0.05);PCT与PSI(r=0.533,P0.05)、CURB-65评分(r=0.698,P0.05)均呈正相关;124例CAP患者血细菌培养阳性患者PCT高于血细菌培养阴性患者,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论在老年CAP患者中PCT能较好的反映患者的病情严重程度,对病原体的初判及抗生素的合理使用均有重要临床应用价值。     

Health care‐associated pneumonia in haemodialysis patients: Clinical outcomes in patients treated with narrow versus broad spectrum antibiotic therapy

Background and objective: Although the 2005 American Thoracic Society/Infectious Disease Society of America antibiotic guidelines classify pneumonia occurring in patients receiving chronic haemodialysis as health care‐associated pneumonia (HCAP), and thus recommend treatment with broad‐spectrum antibiotics for these patients, little data support this classification. We compared clinical outcomes in haemodialysis patients hospitalized with pneumonia, who were treated with broad‐spectrum antibiotics versus narrow‐spectrum antibiotics. Methods: One hundred twenty‐five haemodialysis patients with pneumonia met eligibility criteria. Categorization into the community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) group or HCAP group was based on antibiotic therapy patients received. Time to oral therapy, time to clinical stability, length of stay and mortality were compared. Results: CAP and HCAP patients did not differ in Pneumonia Severity Index and Charlson Comorbidity index scores, but HCAP patients were more likely to meet criteria for severe pneumonia. Patients treated with HCAP therapy had a significantly longer time to oral therapy than CAP patients (9.2 vs 3.2 days, P < 0.001) and a significantly longer length of stay (11.9 vs 5.1 days, P < 0.001). Time to clinical stability was marginally longer in the HCAP group (3.1 vs 2.4 days, P = 0.07). Patients treated with HCAP therapy had longer continuation of intravenous antibiotics after reaching clinical stability (5.5 vs 0.78 days, P < 0.001). Conclusions: This study is the first to our knowledge to describe clinical outcomes in patients with haemodialysis as their only HCAP risk factor. Narrow‐spectrum antibiotics may be safe in haemodialysis patients with no other HCAP risk factors. HCAP therapy delayed de‐escalation to oral antibiotics was associated with increased duration of intravenous antibiotics and length of stay.     

Pneumonie-Schwere-Index (PSI), CURB-65 und Mortalit?t bei hospitalisierten geriatrischen Patienten mit Aspirationspneumonie

Background

Aspiration pneumonia is associated with a high morbidity and mortality in elderly patients. In order to provide risk-adapted medical care, it is necessary to establish valid prognostic tools for these patients.

Objective

The value of two well-established scores to assess prognosis in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), i.e., CURB-65 and the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI), was evaluated in elderly patients hospitalized for aspiration pneumonia.

Material and methods

A total of 209 patients hospitalized with aspiration pneumonia between 2001 and 2005 in a single center were evaluated using PSI and CURB-65. For comparison of morbidity and mortality, an equally large group of inpatients with CAP was analyzed.

Results

The mean age of patients with aspiration pneumonia was 76.7±13.4 years, and 104 (49.8?%) were female. Patients with aspiration pneumonia more frequently showed a history of cancer, hypotension, and hyponatriemia on admission. Mortality was clearly higher in comparison to patients with CAP (39.2% vs. 16.3%). The Odds Ratio (OR) for mortality was 1.03 (95% CI 0.59; 1.79) for a CURB-65 score of 3?C5 points compared to 0?C2 points. In cases of CAP, OR showed a statistically significant increase of risk (OR 2.50; 95% CI 1.04; 6.06), for CURB-65 scores of 3?C5 points vs. 0?C2 points). In aspiration pneumonia, the PSI showed a trend towards increasing mortality within higher risk class.

Conclusions

In geriatric patients hospitalized with aspiration pneumonia, CURB-65 and PSI have no prognostic value.     

Community-acquired pneumonia in the elderly.

The incidence of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the elderly is higher compared to younger populations. In addition, pneumonia in the elderly is a life-threatening problem. As our demographics have changed, clinicians have developed a heightened interest in managing pneumonia in the elderly. The development of pneumonia in elderly patients differs from that in younger individuals due to a complex array of factors. (1) The organisms involved depend on the setting in which the pneumonia developed: either the nonhospitalized elderly patient with CAP or the institutionalized patient who develops nursing-home-acquired pneumonia. (2) Underlying comorbid conditions commonly exist in the elderly that affect the etiology and outcome of pneumonia. Overall, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae are still the most common etiologies of pneumonia in the elderly. The true role of gram-negative bacilli remains unclear although these micro-organisms may be more common etiologic agents in nursing-home pneumonia. Some recent studies from Mediterranean areas have reported high rates of infection by Chlamydia pneumoniae, but the real role of this micro-organism has to be confirmed. Another important issue is that the presenting symptoms of pneumonia in the elderly can be subtle and sometimes difficult to recognize. Fever is frequently absent, and delirium or alteration of functional physical capacity may be the only manifestations. Mortality in the elderly with CAP is higher when compared to younger populations. However, this may be explained by the concomitant presence of comorbid conditions more than by age per se. This statement has to be kept in mind when considering hospital and, particularly, intensive care unit admissions. Finally, antibiotic pharmacokinetics in the elderly populations with CAP ought to be considered to avoid frequent side-effects and complications. Overall, antibiotic regimens in hospitalized elderly patients with CAP do not differ from other hospitalized CAP populations. An organized approach to assessing elderly patients with suspicion of pneumonia and an awareness of common pitfalls in the management of this pulmonary infection in this population are essential to improving outcomes.     

Delirium is a predictor of in-hospital mortality in elderly patients with community acquired pneumonia

Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common reason for hospitalization and death in elderly people. Many predictors of in-hospital outcome have been studied in the general population with CAP. However, data are lacking on the prognostic significance of conditions unique to older patients, such as delirium and the coexistence of multiple comorbidities. The aim of this study was to evaluate predictors of in-hospital outcome in elderly patients hospitalized for CAP. In this retrospective study, consecutive patients with CAP aged ≥65 years were enrolled between January 2011 and June 2012 in two general wards. Clinical and laboratory characteristics were collected from electronic medical records. The end-point of the study was the occurrence of in-hospital death. 443 patients (mean age 81.8 ± 7.5, range 65–99 years) were enrolled. More than 3 comorbidities were present in 31 % of patients. Mean confusion, blood urea nitrogen, respiratory rate, blood pressure and age ≥65 years (CURB-65) score was 2.5 ± 0.7 points. Mean length of stay was 7.6 ± 5.7 days. In-hospital death occurred in 54 patients (12.2 %). At multivariate analysis, independent predictors of in-hospital death were: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (OR 6.21, p = 0.005), occurrence of at least one episode of delirium (OR 5.69, p = 0.017), male sex (OR 5.10, p < 0.0001), and CURB-65 score (OR 3.98, p < 0.0001). Several predictors of in-hospital death (COPD, male gender, CURB-65) in patients with CAP older than 65 years are similar to those of younger patients. In this cohort of elderly patients, the occurrence of delirium was highly prevalent and represented a distinctive predictor of death.     

Process of care performance, patient characteristics, and outcomes in elderly patients hospitalized with community-acquired or nursing home-acquired pneumonia

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To compare process of care performance, patient characteristics, and outcomes in a contemporary cohort of elderly (> or = 65 years) patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) or with nursing home-acquired pneumonia (NHAP). DESIGN: State-wide retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Thirty-four acute-care hospitals in Connecticut. PATIENTS: Elderly Medicare patients hospitalized in 1995-1996 with CAP (1,131) or with NHAP (528). MEASUREMENTS: Antibiotic administration within 8 h of hospital arrival, blood culture collection within 24 h of hospital arrival, oxygenation assessment within 24 h of hospital arrival, demographic and clinical characteristics, in-hospital complications, mortality, and length of stay. RESULTS: Process of care performance rates for patients with CAP and NHAP were equivalent for antibiotic administration within 8 h of hospital arrival (76.8% vs 76.3%, respectively; p = 0.82), blood culture collection within 24 h of hospital arrival (78.1% vs 81.1%, respectively; p = 0.31), and oxygenation assessment within 24 h of hospital arrival (94.7% vs 95. 3%, respectively; p = 0.70). Patients with CAP were younger than those with NHAP (median age, 80 vs 84 years, respectively; p < 0. 001), had less cerebrovascular disease (16.8% vs 34.7%, respectively; p < or = 0.001), and lower mortality risk scores at hospital presentation (median, 100 vs 137, respectively; p < or = 0. 001) than patients with NHAP. The median length of stay was equivalent (7 days), but the in-hospital mortality rate was lower in patients with CAP than in patients with NHAP (8.0% vs 18.6%, respectively; p < or = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Initial hospital processes of care are performed at the same rate in patients hospitalized with CAP or NHAP. However, patients with CAP are younger, are less acutely and chronically ill, and have lower in-hospital mortality rates than patients with NHAP.     

高龄老年和老年社区获得性肺炎的临床特征及预后对照分析

目的调查分析老年社区获得性肺炎（CAP）患者的临床特征及预后因素。方法145例住院的老年CAP患者根据年龄分为高龄组（年龄≥80岁）和老年组（年龄65～79岁）,回顾性分析各组患者的临床和实验室资料及其预后因素。结果高龄组患者90例,平均年龄（87．2±5．6）岁,老年组55例,平均年龄（74．3±3．9）岁。高龄组38例（42．2％）患者长期卧床,30例（33．3％）合并有冠心病,而老年组分别为12例（21．8％）和9例（16.4％）（P〈0．05）。高龄组患者的血红蛋白和白蛋白水平分别为（112．3±22．2）g／L和（30．7±5.1）g／L,老年组为（120．2±22．0）×10^9g／L和（33．8±5．2）g／L（P〈0．05）。多因素分析表明Ⅱ型呼衰、血K^＋〈3．0mmol／L、呼吸频率〉20次／分是影响老年组CAP患者预后的独立危险因子（P〈0．05）;血红蛋白水平〈100g／L、Ⅰ型呼衰、Ⅱ型呼衰、Fine Ⅴ级是影响高龄组CAP患者预后的独立危险因子（P〈0．05）。结论加强对老年社区获得性肺炎的认识,尤其是对高龄老年CAP患者早期诊断,早期治疗,对改善预后、降低病死率有重要意义。     

降钙素原与乳酸在老年社区获得性肺炎患者预后评估中的应用

目的研究降钙素原(PCT)与乳酸对老年社区获得性肺炎患者的病情和预后的评估作用。方法 118例老年社区获得性肺炎患者,入院后给予PCT、乳酸等检查,并给予肺炎严重指数(PSI)评分。分别比较重症与非重症肺炎、死亡组和存活组PCT、乳酸和PSI的区别;分析PCT、乳酸与PSI的相关性。结果重症肺炎患者乳酸、PCT和PSI评分均大于非重症患者,死亡组乳酸、PCT和PSI评分均大于存活组(P<0.05);乳酸、PCT与PSI评分呈正相关(r=0.63,0.65,P<0.05)。结论 PCT和乳酸对老年社区获得性肺炎患者的预后和病情有评估作用,PCT和乳酸升高提示患者预后差。     

Geriatric patients improve as much as younger patients from hospitalization on general psychiatric units

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether geriatric patients aged 65 and older on general adult psychiatric units improve as much as younger patients, over what duration their improvement occurs, and their risk of readmission. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Inpatient psychiatric unit of an urban, university-affiliated, county hospital from January 1993 through August 1999. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 5,929 inpatients. MEASUREMENTS: Standardized, routine assessments by attending psychiatrists included the Psychiatric Symptom Assessment Scale (PSAS) on admission and discharge. Discharge scores, length of stay (LOS), and risk of readmission within 1 year were modeled for the groups using multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: Geriatric patients constituted 5% (n=299) of the 5,929 admissions. In multivariate analysis, geriatric status was not associated with discharge PSAS scores. Median LOS was longer for geriatric patients (16 days) than younger patients (10 days, P<.001), especially in older women (14 days) and geriatric patients with mild medical illness severity (13 days vs 11 days in those with moderate-to-severe medical illness). Geriatric patients were as likely to be readmitted within 1 year of discharge as younger patients. CONCLUSION: Geriatric patients on general inpatient psychiatry units improved as much as younger patients. Their longer LOS was associated with milder medical illness severity. There may be a role for more specialized care of elderly women or geriatric patients with mild to moderate medical illness to improve the efficiency of their care.