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The diagnosis of pneumonia based on semiology and chest X-rays is frequently inaccurate, particularly in elderly patients. Older (C-reactive protein (CRP); procalcitonin (PCT)) or newer (Serum amyloid A (SAA); neopterin (NP)) biomarkers may increase the accuracy of pneumonia diagnosis, but data are scarce and conflicting. We assessed the accuracy of CRP, PCT, SAA, NP and the ratios CRP/NP and SAA/NP in a prospective observational cohort of elderly patients with suspected pneumonia. Methods We included consecutive patients more than 65 years old, with at least one respiratory symptom and one symptom or laboratory finding suggestive of infection, and a working diagnosis of pneumonia. Low-dose CT scan and comprehensive microbiological testing were done in all patients. The index tests, CRP, PCT, SAA and NP, were obtained within 24 hours. The reference diagnosis was assessed a posteriori by a panel of experts considering all available data, including patients' outcome. We used area under the curve (AUROC) and Youden index to assess the accuracy and obtain optimal cutoff of the index tests.

Background: Mechanisms and causes of death in older patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection are still poorly understood. Methods: We conducted in a retrospective monocentric study, a clinical chart review and post-mortem examination of patients aged 75 years and older hospitalized in acute care and positive for SARS-CoV-2. Full body autopsy and correlation with clinical findings and suspected causes of death were done. Results: Autopsies were performed in 12 patients (median age 85 years; median of 4 comorbidities, mainly hypertension and cardiovascular disease). All cases showed exudative or proliferative phases of alveolar damage and/or a pattern of organizing pneumonia. Causes of death were concordant in 6 cases (50%), and undetected diagnoses were found in 6. Five patients died from hypoxemic respiratory failure due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), five had another associated diagnosis and two died from alternative causes. Deaths that occurred in the second week were related to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia whereas those occurring earlier were related mainly to heart failure and those occurring later to complications. Conclusions: Although COVID-19 hypoxemic respiratory failure was the most common cause of death, post-mortem pathological examination revealed that acute decompensation from chronic comorbidities during the first week of COVID-19 and complications in the third week contributed to mortality.

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Background: A hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia results in a decrease in long-term survival in elderly patients. We assessed biomarkers at admission to predict one-year mortality in a cohort of elderly patients with pneumonia. Methods: A prospective observational study included patients >65 years hospitalized with pneumonia. Assessment of PSI, CURB-65, and biomarkers (C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), NT-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), interleukin (IL)-6 and -8, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), serum amyloid A (SAA), neopterin (NP), myeloperoxidase (MPO), anti-apolipoprotein A-1 IgG (anti-apoA-1), and anti-phosphorylcholine IgM (anti-PC IgM)) was used to calculate prognostic values for one-year mortality using ROC curve analyses. Post hoc optimal cutoffs with corresponding sensitivity (SE) and specificity (SP) were determined using the Youden index. Results: A total of 133 patients were included (median age 83 years [IQR: 78–89]). Age, dementia, BMI, NT-proBNP (AUROC 0.65 (95% CI: 0.55–0.77)), and IL-8 (AUROC 0.66 (95% CI: 0.56–0.75)) were significantly associated with mortality, with NT-proBNP (HR 1.01 (95% CI 1.00–1.02) and BMI (HR 0.92 (95% CI 0.85–1.000) being independent of age, gender, comorbidities, and PSI with Cox regression. At the cutoff value of 2200 ng/L, NT-proBNP had 67% sensitivity and 70% specificity. PSI and CURB-65 were not associated with mortality. Conclusions: NT-proBNP levels upon admission and BMI displayed the highest prognostic accuracy for one-year mortality and may help clinicians to identify patients with poor long-term prognosis.