Table 1.
Clinical Characteristics and Investigation Results of the Study Population (N = 108)
| Variables | Values (Normal Range) |
|---|---|
| Demographics | |
| Age, y, mean (±SD) | 85.6 (±9.2) |
| Male sex, n (%) | 50 (46.3) |
| Mini-Mental State Examination score, mean (±SD) | 15.8 (±6.2) |
| Barthel index, median (IQR) | 4 (2–10) |
| Body mass index, kg/m2, median (IQR) | 20.8 (18.1–24.6) |
| Nasogastric tube feeding, n (%) | 20 (18.5) |
| Charlson comorbidity index, median (IQR) | 3 (1–4) |
| Hospitalization within past 4 weeks, n (%) | 29 (26.9) |
| Flu vaccination within past 6 months, n (%) | 57 (52.8) |
| Flu vaccination within past 6–12 months, n (%) | 41 (38.0) |
| Comorbidities, n (%) | |
| Cerebrovascular accident | 52 (48.1) |
| Dementia | 59 (54.6) |
| Diabetes | 26 (24.1) |
| Ischemic heart disease | 17 (15.7) |
| Congestive heart failure | 18 (16.7) |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases | 21 (19.4) |
| Chronic kidney diseases | 18 (16.7) |
| Chronic liver diseases | 3 (2.8) |
| Active malignancy | 6 (5.6) |
| Respiratory symptom, n (%) | |
| Fever | 98 (90.7) |
| Shortness of breath | 81 (75.0) |
| Cough∗ | 99 (91.7) |
| Mucoid sputum | 45 (41.7) |
| Purulent sputum | 47 (43.5) |
| Hemoptysis | 3 (2.8) |
| Respiratory signs, n (%) | |
| Rhonchi | 21 (19.4) |
| Bronchial breath sounds | 8 (7.4) |
| Crepitations | 84 (77.8) |
| Chest radiographs, n (%) | |
| Ill-defined shadows | 69 (63.9) |
| Consolidation | 39 (36.1) |
| Pleural effusion | 11 (10.2) |
| Blood tests | |
| Sodium, mmol/L | 134 (129–137) |
| Urea, mmol/L | 7.5 (5.6–10.1) |
| Creatinine, μmol/L | 97 (72–126) |
| Albumin, g/L | 32 .3 (±4.8) |
| White cell counts, ×109/L | 12.1 (8.6–15.7) |
| CURB score, n (%) | |
| 0–1 | 40 (37.0) |
| 2–4 | 68 (63.0) |
CURB, confusion, blood urea level, respiratory rate, and low blood pressure; IQR, interquartile range.
∗
Eighteen (16.7%) patients had cough longer than 2 weeks.