title: Efficacy of zinc sulphate on in-hospital outcome of community-acquired pneumonia in people aged 50 years and over.
abstract: METHODS
  Some studies have reported a beneficial effect of zinc sulphate in children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of adjuvant zinc therapy in adult hospitalised CAP patients aged ⩾50 years on standard antibiotic treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, 91 hospitalised patients diagnosed with CAP using standard clinical and radiological criteria were randomised to receive 220 mg (110 mg twice daily) zinc sulphate for 4 days or placebo, in addition to antibiotics. The primary endpoint was length of hospital stay, and secondary endpoints were time to normalisation of oxygen saturation, respiratory rate and temperature. Disease severity was scored using CURB-65 (mental Confusion, Urea >20 mg/dl, Respiratory rate ⩾30/min, low Blood pressure and age ⩾65 years)
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results did not show significant differences in length of hospital stay, time to normalisation of respiratory rate and oxygen saturation between patients in the zinc sulphate and placebo groups (P = 0.18, 0.65 and 0.26, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A short course of zinc supplementation does not improve outcome in hospitalised patients aged ⩾50 years with CAP. In this setting, it should not be recommended as routine adjunctive treatment.
authors.affiliation: Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharafi
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Boalisina Hospital, Qazvin, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allami
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D007902:Length of Stay; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019287:Zinc Sulfate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D019287:Zinc Sulfate