PROGNOSTIC FACTORS OF MORTALITY IN COMMUN ITARY PNEUMONIA REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION

The Prognostic influence on mortality of parameters available in an em ergency Unit is studied in patients with acquired communitary pneumoni a (ACP) requiring hospitalization. Three hundred and thirty patients a dmitted consecutively from the emergency unit of a general hospital we re evaluated. Radiological, analytical, clinical, and demographic data were recorded. The parameters associated with greater mortality were: age, absence of thoracic pain, obnubilation, hypotension, elevation i n urea, GOT, GPT, LDH, decrease in prothrombin activity, pO(2), PH, al bumin, and the affectation of more than one lobe in a radiography of t he thorax. Considering the parameters associated with a higher relativ e risk (age>65 years, urea >50 mg/dl, LDH >460 U/l and prothrombin <70 %), the presence of three or four of these variables shaved a sensibil ity of 59 percent and a specificity of 93 percent in predicting mortal ity. In the multivariant analysis remained as significant: age, obnubi lation, elevation in LDH, and decrease in the activity of prothrombin and pH. Appropriate knowledge of the prognostic factors in CAP allows for early determination of patients who require special attention in b oth diagnosis and in treatment upon hospitalization.