Community acquired pneumonia and cardiac diseases: a fatal association

Abstract

Background: Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains a common disease condition attributing to a significant mortality and morbidity worldwide. Acute cardiac events (ACEs) are one of the most life-threatening complications in patients with severe pneumonia.

Methods: Retrospective study of burden of ACE in 105 patients admitted with CAP.

Results: Twenty-five patients with (CURB-65) score ranging between 0 - 2 did not require intensive care unit (ICU) admission and were admitted in the ward and high dependency unit. Of these, 12 developed ACE and 4 required to be shifted to the ICU for further management. Eighty patients with a CURB-65 score of greater than 3 were admitted to the ICU. Of the patients admitted to the ICU, 10 with ACE died; 2 patients without ACE also died.

Conclusions: Our observations suggest that ACE constitute an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with CAP requiring hospitalisition.