Resolution of symptoms in patients with community-acquired pneumonia treated on an ambulatory basis.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the resolution of five symptoms commonly associated with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).


METHODS
Three hundred and ninety-nine patients with CAP (Fine Classes I to III) recorded the severity (from 0 to 5) of fatigue, cough, dyspnoea, sputum, and pleuritic chest pain daily from enrollment to day 14 and also on days 30 and 42. A total symptom score was obtained by multiplying an individual score by four and summing the score of the five symptom (transformed score). A total symptom score of <or= 20 or an individual symptom untransformed score of <or= 1 was defined as resolution.


RESULTS
The mean untransformed symptom scores at the time of presentation were: fatigue (3.5 +/- 1.4), cough (3.5 +/- 1.5), dyspnoea (2.7 +/- 1.5), sputum production (2.2 +/- 1.6) and chest pain (2.1 +/- 1.7). Sixty-seven percent had resolution of symptoms by day 14. When the study population was divided according to a mean total symptom score of <or= 20 or > 20 on day 14, the patients with a score > 20 (n = 122; 33%) had higher symptom scores at all time points out to 42 days. The median time to return to work was 6 days.


CONCLUSIONS
The pneumonia symptom severity score is a useful tool for advising patients regarding the time to symptomatic resolution of pneumonia.
Department of Medicine, 2F1.30 Walter C. Mackenzie Health Sciences Center, University of Alberta, 8440-112 Street, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada. tom.marrie@ualberta.ca
Thomas J
TJ
Marrie
Michael D
MD
Beecroft
Zeljka
Z
Herman-Gnjidic
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001372:Aza Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077266:Moxifloxacin; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011804:Quinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001372:Aza Compounds; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D011804:Quinolines; D017291:Clarithromycin; D000077266:Moxifloxacin