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 hospitalisation.