Abstract
Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is one of the leading causes of death in patients with cardiac disease. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of cardiac diseases in a group of adult patients with CAP.
Methods: The authors have retrospectively analyzed a group of 84 adultpatients with CAP. All of the patients were monitorized in the Clinic of Infectious Diseases Timisoara in 2012. The positive diagnosis was based on clinical elements (fever, cough with expectoration, alveolar rales, chest pain, dyspnoea, etc.), biological elements (ESR, Leukocytosis, Fibrinogen, CRP, sputum smear testing, sputum culture testing, blood cultures, etc.) and paraclinic elements (chest radiography, computer tomography). The results of the biological and paraclinical investigations were registered in the individual patient file. The statistic data was processed using the Epi Info 5 program.
Results: Out of the study group (n=84), 32 (38.09%) patients presented associated cardiac disease. So, were recorded: 25 (29.76%) patients with Arterial Hypertension, 4 (4.76%) patients with Pulmonary Hypertension, 22 (26.19%) patients with Ischemic Heart disease, 15 (17.85%) patients with coronary artery disease, 18 (21.42%) patients with Heart failure, 16 (19.04%) patients with arrhythmias, 3 (3,57%) patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism, 14 (16.66%) patients with valvular heart disease and 5 (5.95%) patients with Infective endocarditis. We mention that 18 out of 32 patients with cardiac disease required ICU care (p=0.385).
Conclusions: High prevalence of cardiac diseases in CAP patients highlights the need for the implementation of efficient prophylaxis and collaboration with the cardiologist.
- © 2014 ERS