Table 1– Characteristics of included studies
First author [Ref.]Publication yearDesignScore(s) assessedSetting and datesSubjects nAge years#ICU admission rate %Mortality rate %Study objective/conclusion
Kontou [10]2009Retrospective studyIDSA/ATS criteria, PSI, CURB-65Single centre; CT, USA15863.1±18.819.612.6Comparison of IDSA/ATS criteria to other severity scores Usefulness of IDSA/ATS in predicting SCAP
Chalmers [4]2011Prospective observational studyIDSA/ATS, PSI, CURB-65, SMART-COP, SCAP, 2001 minor ATS criteriaMulticentre; Scotland, UK106263 (47–74)7.64.5Validation of minor criteria IDSA/ATS can predict requirement for ICU admission
Guo [8]2011Retrospective studyIDSA/ATSSingle centre; China123047.5±22.2NR16Weight of minor criteria SOFA scores and costs increased significantly with number of minor criteria
Fukuyama [9]2011Prospective observational studyIDSA/ATS, PSI, A-DROP CURB-65, SMART-COP, España ruleSingle centre; Okayama, Japan, April 2007–May 200950576 (67–83)6.36.5Validation of the España rule
Phua [5]2009Prospective observational studyIDSA/ATSSingle centre; Singapore124265.712.614.7Validation of IDSA/ATS criteria
Liapikou [7]2009Prospective observational studyIDSA/ATSSingle centre; Barcelona, Spain210267±18115.2Validation of IDSA/ATS criteria
Brown [6]2009Retrospective Cohort studyIDSA/ATSSingle centre; Salt Lake City, UT, USA241356.215.63.7Validation of IDSA/ATS criteria

  • ICU: intensive care unit; IDSA: Infectious Diseases Society of America; ATS: American Thoracic Society; PSI: pneumonia severity index; CURB-65: new-onset confusion, urea >7 mmol·L−1, respiratory rate ≥30 breaths per min, blood pressure <90 mmHg (systolic) or ≤60 mmHg (diastolic), age ≥65 years; SMART-COP: systolic blood pressure, multilobar chest radiography involvement, albumin, respiratory rate, tachycardia, new-onset confusion, oxygenation, pH; SCAP: severe community-acquired pneumonia; NR: not reported; SOFA: Sequential Organ Failure Assessment; A-DROP: age, dehydration, respiratory failure, orientation disturbance, blood pressure. #: Data for years are expressed as mean±SD, median (interquartile range) or mean.