Mortality predictors in community-acquired pneumonia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine mortality predictors among patients admitted for community-acquired pneumonia to the medical wards of Ladoke Akintola University of Teaching Hospital between Jan. 2003 and Dec. 2005.


METHODS
The case notes of 65 patients admitted for community-acquired pneumonia were studied with respect to their admission Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) (Score) and functional class. The duration of admission, side of lung affected on chest X-ray, co-morbid illness and outcome were also noted.


RESULTS
The mean Pneumonia Severity Index score for patients who were discharged and those who died was 65.48 +/- 32.6 and 95.47 +/- 32.9 respectively (P<0.05). Bedridden patients have higher mortality than patients who walked without problems on admission (P<0.05). The mean duration of admission of discharged patients was 9.5 +/- 8.9 days while that of patients who died was 4.82 +/- 2.7 days (P<0.05). The side of lung involvement of chest X-ray does not seem to affect mortality (P>0.05). Sixteen co-morbid illnesses were identified.


CONCLUSIONS
The Pneumonia Severity Index score remains an important mortality predictor in patients with community-acquired pneumonia, but there is need to widen its scope to include functional class, duration of admission, and locally important co-morbid illnesses.
Department of Medicine, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology College of Medicine, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria. mtanimowo2004@yahoo.com
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Tanimowo
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D012720:Severity of Illness Index