The Association between Nutritional Parameters and the Prognosis of Community Acquired Pneumonia

Background: Community–acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the most common potentially fatal infectious disease in adults worldwide. Prognosis depends on many factors including nutritional status. (P.S this research began before COVID19 pandemic arrivals to our country).

Objective: The present study aims to assess the association between markers of nutritional status and severity of CAP.

Materials and Methods: This is observational descriptive study conducted in the Department of Pulmonology in Tishreen University Hospital –Lattakia- Syria from November 2019 to November 2020. Adult patients with the diagnosis of CAP were enrolled in the study.

Results: A total of 70 patients were included, Median age was 65 years, 40 (57.10%) were male. Serum albumin and cholesterol levels were lower in patients older than 65 years; (3.07±0.4 vs 3.5±0.5, p:0.001) and (135.2±33.2 vs 154.8±31.7, p: 0.01), respectively. Levels of albumin and cholesterol were significantly higher in survivors group; (3.6±0.4 vs. 2.7±0.3, p:0.001) and (158.3±23.9 vs. 120.3±35.08, p: 0.0001).

Pearson's correlation analysis revealed negative correlation between pneumonia severity index (PSI) and: serum albumin (r = -0.61, p:0.0001), cholesterol(r = -0.45, p:0.0001) and BMI (r = -0.16, p: 0.1). The CRP showed negative correlation with serum albumin (r = -0.55, p:0.0001), cholesterol (r = -0.51 ,p:0.0001) and BMI (r = -0.09, p: 0.4).

Conclusion: Serum albumin and cholesterol values were found to be related to the severity of CAP and initial levels may be a useful biomarkers to predict the outcome of patients.