Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of elderly patients admitted with pneumonia
| Characteristic | NHAP (n = 58) | CAP (n = 151) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, yr | 80 (76–86) | 77 (71–81) | < 0.001 |
| Male sex | 28 (48.2) | 97 (64.2) | 0.035 |
| Aspiration tendencya | 55 (94.8) | 47 (31.1) | < 0.001 |
| Tube feeding | 11 (18.9) | 0 | < 0.001 |
| Tracheostomy | 2 (3.4) | 0 | 0.076 |
| Comorbidity | |||
| Malignancy | 7 (12.0) | 11 (7.2) | 0.270 |
| Chronic liver disease | 4 (6.8) | 14 (9.2) | 0.584 |
| Cardiovascular disease | 10 (17.2) | 32 (21.1) | 0.523 |
| Chronic renal disease | 6 (10.3) | 23 (15.2) | 0.360 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 13 (22.4) | 35 (23.1) | 0.906 |
| Chronic lung disease | 12 (20.6) | 46 (30.4) | 0.158 |
| Central nervous system disorders | 53 (91.3) | 47 (31.1) | < 0.001 |
| Immunosuppressive agents | 1 (1.2) | 10 (6.6) | 0.297 |
| Two or more comorbidities | 42 (72.4) | 87 (57.6) | 0.049 |
| Clinical parameters | |||
| Body temperature, °C | 37.1 (36.6–38.1) | 37.5 (36.6–38.3) | 0.174 |
| Altered mentality | 22 (37.9) | 15 (9.9) | < 0.001 |
| Respiratory failureb | 30 (51.7) | 64 (42.3) | 0.224 |
| Severe sepsis or septic shock at onset | 20 (34.4) | 21 (13.9) | 0.001 |
| Intensive care unit admission | 8 (13.7) | 22 (14.5) | 0.886 |
| Need for ventilator | 4 (6.8) | 15 (9.9) | 0.494 |
| Radiological findings | |||
| Multi-lobar involvementc | 49 (84.4) | 110 (72.8) | 0.077 |
| Pleural effusion | 16 (27.5) | 32 (21.1) | 0.325 |
| Laboratory findings | |||
| White blood cells, /mm3 | 10,300 (7,550–14,900) | 11,500 (8,000–14,800) | 0.417 |
| C-reactive protein, mg/dL | 12.43 (5.30–22.48) | 11.21 (5.09–20.21) | 0.467 |
| Procalcitonin, mg/dLd | 0.77 (0.21–4.98) | 0.23 (0.09–0.95) | 0.001 |
| Indices for disease severity | |||
| CURB-65 score | 2 (2–3) | 2 (1–2) | < 0.001 |
| CURB-65 score ≥ 3 | 26 (44.8) | 24 (15.8) | < 0.001 |
| PSI score | 140 (117–171) | 100 (84–125) | < 0.001 |
| PSI class IV and V | 55 (94.8) | 104 (68.8) | < 0.001 |
Values are presented as median (interquartile range) or numbers (%).
NHAP, nursing home-acquired pneumonia; CAP, community-acquired pneumonia; PSI, pneumonia severity index.
Aspiration tendency was defined as having factors predisposing a patient to aspiration, such as a bed-ridden state, central nervous system or oropharyngeal disorders (e.g., malignancy), gastroesophageal disorders (e.g., esophageal diverticulum, achalasia, systemic sclerosis, esophageal cancer, severe reflux esophagitis, or post-gastrectomy), Levin tube inserted state, and subjective and/or observed aspiration/choking/dysphagia/vomiting episode.
Respiratory failure was defined when PaO2 ≤ 60 mmHg or when the PaO2/FiO2 ratio ≤ 300 mmHg.
Multi-lobar involvement was defined as the presence of pneumonic infiltrates in two or more lobes on chest radiography or computed tomography.
The procalcitonin test was performed in 49 patients with NHAP and 117 with CAP.