JOPIC
Journal of Pulmonology and Intensive Care

The JoPIC is an independent-unbiased, peer-reviewed, and open-access journal of current national and international issues and reviews for original clinical and experimental research, interesting case reports, surgical techniques, differential diagnoses, editorial opinions, letters to the editor, and educational papers in pulmonology, thoracic surgery, occupational diseases, allergology, and intensive care medicine.

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Original Article
Evaluation of the clinical course of acute phase reactants and associated factors in geriatric patients followed up in icu due to community- and hospital-acquired pneumonia
Abstract
Aims: Advancing age leads to numerous physiopathological changes, particularly in the respiratory system. Moreover, biomarkers and acute phase reactants are affected by age-related inflammation and cellular and humoral immunity changes. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the age-related course of acute phase reactants in CAP and HAP patients and to assess its relationship with independent intra-intensive unit (ICU) mortality.
Methods: Patients followed up in intensive unit (ICU) due to community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were divided into four groups in terms of age: (I) 18-64 years, (II) 65-75 years, (III) 76-90 years, and (IV) 91+ years. Acute phase reactants were measured at ICU admission and at the 72 hours after admission.
Results: A total of 549 patients comprising 389 CAP and 160 HAP patients were included in the study. Mean age was 73 (range, 22-99) years and 33% of the participants were female. Age and gender were similar between the two groups. On laboratory examination, neutrophil count (NE), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), procalcitonin and CRP were significantly higher in the HAP group than in the CAP group. The rate of intra-ICU independent mortality was significantly higher in HAP patients than in CAP patients (24.4% vs 11.6, p<0.001). All laboratory parameters except for lymphocyte count (LY) on admission was similar between the groups.
Conclusion: The response of LY to advancing age was greater than the response of other inflammatory acute phase reactants. In patients with severe pneumonia, serial measurement of WBC, CRP, PCT, and NE may be useful in predicting short-term intra-ICU mortality.

Keywords : Age, community-acquired pneumonia, course of acute phase reactants, hospital-acquired pneumonia

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Article available in :
Volume 4, Issue 3, 2026
Page : 67-72
https://doi.org/10.51271/JOPIC-0083
Article Information
Received : 29 Nis 2026
Accepted : 02 Tem 2026
Published : 20 Ağu 2026
Corresponding Author :

Derya Hoşgün: Department of Intensive Care Unit, Atatürk Sanatorium Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Hoşgün D, Çakıroğlu EB, Sevim S, Doğancı M, Eraslan Doğanay G, Sazak H. Evaluation of the clinical course of acute phase reactants and associated factors in geriatric patients followed up in icu due to community- and hospital-acquired pneumonia. J Pulmonol Intens Care. 2026;4(3):67-72. doi:10.51271/JOPIC-0083

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