Geriatric Assessment and Prognostic Factors of Mortality in Very Elderly Patients With Community-Acquired Pneumonia

IntroductionTo assess the relationship between the parameters obtained in the geriatric assessment and mortality in elderly people with community-acquired pneumonia in an acute care geriatric unit.MethodsFour hundred fifty-six patients (≥75 years). Variables: age, sex, referral source, background, consciousness level, heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, laboratory data, pleural effusion, multilobar infiltrates, functional status (activities of daily living) prior to admission [Lawton index (LI), Barthel index (BIp)] prior to and at admission (BIa), cognitive status [Pfeiffer test (PT)], comorbidity [Charlson index (ChI)] and nutrition (total protein, albumin).ResultsA hundred ten patients died (24.2%) during hospitalization. These patients were older (86.6±6.4 vs 85.1±6.4, P<.04), had more comorbidity (ChI 2.35±1.61 vs 2.08±1.38; P<.083), worse functional impairment [(LI: 0.49±1.15 vs 1.45±2.32, P<.001) (BIp: 34.6±32.9 vs 54.0±34.1, P<.001) (BIa: 5.79±12.5 vs 20.5±22.9, P<.001)], a higher percentage of functional loss at admission (85.9±23.2 vs 66.4±28.6; P<.0001), worse cognitive impairment (PT: 7.20±3.73 vs 5.10±3.69, P<.001) and malnutrition (albumin 2.67±0.54 vs 2.99±0.49, P<.001). Mortality was higher with impaired consciousness [49.2% (P<.01)], tachypnea [33.3% (P<.01)], tachycardia [44.4% (P<.002), high urea levels [31.8 (P<.001)], anemia [44.7% (P<.02)], pleural effusion [42.9% (P<.002)], and multilobar infiltrates [43.2% (P<.001)]. In the multivariate analysis, variables associated with mortality were: age≥90 years [OR: 3.11 (95% CI: 1.31–7.36)], impaired consciousness [3.19 (1.66–6.15)], hematocrit<30% [2.87 (1.19–6.94)], pleural effusion [3.77 (1.69–8.39)] and multilobar infiltrates [2.76 (1.48–5.16)]. Female sex and a preserved functional status prior (LI≥5) and during admission (BIa≥40) were protective of mortality [0.40 (0.22–0.70), 0.09 (0.01–0.81) and 0.11 (0.02–0.51)].ConclusionsGeriatric assessment parameters and routine clinical variables were associated with mortality.

ResumenIntroducciónAnalizar la relación de parámetros obtenidos en la valoración geriátrica con la mortalidad en ancianos con neumonía extrahospitalaria (NEH) en una unidad de geriatría de agudos (UGA).MétodoUn total de 456 pacientes (≥ 75 años). Variables: edad, sexo, procedencia, antecedentes, nivel de conciencia, frecuencia cardíaca y respiratoria, presión arterial, datos de laboratorio, derrame pleural, afectación multilobar, capacidad funcional (independencia para actividades de la vida diaria) previa al ingreso (índice de Lawton [IL], índice de Barthel previo [IBp]) y en el momento del ingreso (IBi), función cognitiva (test de Pfeiffer [TP]), comorbilidad (índice de Charlson [ICh]) y nutrición (proteínas totales, albúmina).ResultadosLos 110 pacientes que fallecieron durante el ingreso (24,2%) tuvieron mayor edad (86,6 ± 6,4 vs 85,1 ± 6,4; p < 0,04), mayor comorbilidad (ICh 2,35 ± 1,61 vs 2,08 ± 1,38; p < 0,083), menor capacidad funcional (IL: 0,49 ± 1,15 vs 1,45 ± 2,32; p < 0,001; IBp: 34,6 ± 32,9 vs 54,0 ± 34,1; p < 0,001; IBi: 5,79 ± 12,5 vs 20,5 ± 22,9; p < 0,001), mayor porcentaje de pérdida funcional al ingreso (85,9 ± 23,2 vs 66,4 ± 28,6; p < 0,0001), mayor deterioro cognitivo (TP: 7,20 ± 3,73 vs 5,10 ± 3,69; p < 0,001) y mayor desnutrición (albúmina 2,67 ± 0,54 vs 2,99 ± 0,49; p < 0,001). Hubo también mayor mortalidad con alteración de conciencia (49,2%; p < 0,01), taquipnea (33,3%; p < 0,01), taquicardia (44,4%; p < 0,002), urea elevada (31,8; p < 0,001), anemia (44,7%; p < 0,02), derrame pleural (42,9%; p < 0,002) y afectación multilobar (43,2%; p < 0,001). En el análisis multivariado resultaron significativos: edad ≥ 90 años (OR: 3,11 [IC 95%: 1,31-7,36]), alteración de conciencia (3,19 [1,66-6,15]), hematocrito < 30% (2,87 [1,19-6,94]), derrame pleural (3,77 [1,69-8,39]) y afectación multilobar (2,76 [1,48-5,16]). El sexo femenino y la capacidad funcional más conservada previa (IL ≥ 5) y en el momento del ingreso (IBi ≥ 40) fueron protectores de mortalidad (0,40 [0,22-0,70]; 0,09 [0,01-0,81] y 0,11 [0,02-0,51]).ConclusionesLos parámetros de valoración geriátrica y las variables clínicas habituales estuvieron relacionados con la mortalidad.