Clinical characteristics and pathogen analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid pathogens in elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods: This was a retrospective observational epidemiological study using that elderly cases diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia receiving treatment at the Affiliated Hospital of North China University of Technology, Tangshan Hongci Hospital and Tangshan Fengnan District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. A total of 92 cases were divided into two groups according to age. There were 44 patients over 75-year-old and 48 patients between 65 and 74-year-old. Results: Compared with the elderly 65 to 74-year-old, the elderly over 75-year-old with diabetes are more likely to suffer from CAP (35.42% vs. 63.64%, p = 0.007) and are more likely to have mixed infections (6.25% vs. 22.73%, p = 0.023) or larger lesions (45.83% vs. 68.18%, p = 0.031). Their hospital stays will also be extended (39.58% vs. 63.64%, p = 0.020), and the albumin level (37.51 ± 8.92 vs. 30.93 ± 6.58, p = 0.000), the neutrophils level (9.09(6.26–10.63) vs. 7.18(5.35–9.17),p = 0.026) is significantly lower and the d-dimer (505.42 ± 197.12 vs. 611.82 ± 195.85, p = 0.011), PCT (0.08 ± 0.04 vs. 0.12 ± 0.07, p = 0.001) levels are significantly higher. Conclusion: The clinical symptoms and signs of elderly CAP patients are not so typical, and the infection is more serious. Attention should therefore be paid to elderly patients. Hypoalbuminemia and high d-dimer can predict the prognosis of patients.