Only severely limited, premorbid functional status is associated with short- and long-term mortality in patients with pneumonia who are critically ill: a prospective observational study.
BACKGROUND
Severe pneumonia requiring ICU admission has not been well characterized with respect to long-term outcomes or predictors thereof. We examined the association between premorbid functional status and mortality in patients with severe pneumonia.


METHODS
From 2000 to 2002, a population-based cohort of adults with pneumonia who were critically ill was enrolled and prospectively followed. Short-term (30-day) and long-term (1-year) mortality were examined using multivariable Cox regression models.


RESULTS
The final cohort included 271 patients, mean age 61 years, 59% men, and 16% from nursing homes. The mean Pneumonia Severity Index was 113 (71% class IV or V), and the mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was 17. Overall, 121 (45%) patients were functionally independent, 115 (42%) had limited mobility, and 35 (13%) were completely dependent. Mortality was 11% at 30 days and 27% at 1 year; by functional status mortality was 6% at 30 days and 17% at 1 year for patients who were independent, 10% and 31% for patients with limited mobility, and 39% and 48% for patients who were dependent. Mortality was greater for patients who were completely dependent when compared with patients who were independent (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 5.3; 95% CI, 2.0-14.1; P < .001 at 30 days; and aHR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.5-6.1; P = .002 at 1 year) or with patients who had limited mobility (aHR, 4.8; 95% CI, 2.0-11.2, P < .001 at 30 days; and aHR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.3-4,4, P = .007 at 1 year). There were no mortality differences between patients with limited mobility and patients who were independent.


CONCLUSIONS
One-quarter of patients with pneumonia who are critically ill are dead within 1 year. Severely limited premorbid functional status was associated with mortality; this should be considered at presentation for prognosis and at discharge for targeted follow-up.
Sligl
Wendy I
WI
Division of Critical Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. wsligl@ualberta.ca
Eurich
Dean T
DT
Marrie
Thomas J
TJ
Majumdar
Sumit R
SR
D000368:Aged; D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors