The following is a summary of “Prognostic factors of virus-associated pneumonia other than COVID-19 in adults,” published in the January 2024 issue of Pulmonology by Ishiguro, et al.
For a study, researchers sought to identify prognostic factors associated with virus-associated pneumonia other than coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
They conducted a retrospective analysis of patients admitted to Saitama Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center between 2002 and 2020 with virus-associated community-acquired pneumonia. Prognostic factors were assessed using univariable and multivariable regression analysis, considering patient demographics, laboratory data, chest imaging, severity on admission, and initial treatment. Patients with HIV infection, non-resected lung cancer, undergoing chemotherapy, or diagnosed with COVID-19 were excluded. The study included 363 patients diagnosed using nucleic acid amplification, paired sera, and rapid diagnostic tests.
While a CURB-65 score of ≥3 was significant for 60-day mortality in univariable analysis, it lost significance in multivariable analysis. Multivariable analysis identified several poor prognostic factors (P < 0.05), including immunosuppressive state due to systemic corticosteroid or immunosuppressant administration, acute kidney injury on admission, and corticosteroid initiation within 5 days or 5 days to 2 weeks from onset.
Although a CURB-65 score of ≥3 indicates severe pneumonia, its predictive value for mortality in virus-associated pneumonia was limited. Instead, underlying diseases and complications emerged as independent predictors of poor prognosis for 60-day mortality. The optimal timing for initiating corticosteroid administration warranted further investigation.
Reference: resmedjournal.com/article/S0954-6111(23)00385-2/abstract