Community Acquired Pneumonia: An Increased Risk For Subsequent Cardiovascular Events?

Introduction: Community acquired pneumonia (CAP), one of the most prevalent infectious disease, has been recently associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular complications, stroke and death. Aim: To evaluate the association between CAP treated as inpatient and the occurrence of cardiovascular events (CVE). Methods: Retrospective analysis of all patients admitted in a pulmonology ward with CAP in 2018. Description of the population and analysis of the CVE within six months after the event. Results: In 2018 a total of 193 patients were admitted with CAP, with male predominance (2:1) and a mean age of 66 years (± 1,15). Within six months after CAP, 24 patients (12,4%) had at least one CVE: acute coronary syndrome 5 (2,6%); new or worsening heart failure 14 (7,3%); de novo or recurrent arrhythmia 5 (2,6%); cerebrovascular accident 2 (1,0%). As illustrated in the following table, there was a significant statistic difference between the proportion of CVE after CAP and both previous cardiovascular events and CURB-65. There wasn’t a significant statistic difference between the proportion of CVE after CAP and microbiological agent isolation (MAI). The in-hospital mortality was 10,9% (21 cases) and 13,4% (23 cases) at 1 year. Conclusion: There is a high percentage of CVE within 6 months after a CAP episode that requires inpatient treatment, mostly in patients with prior CVE and with moderate to severe CURB-65 at admission, suggesting the importance of close follow-up in such patients.