Corresponding author. Gazi University Faculty of Medicine Emergency Medicine Department Besevler-Yenimahalle, Ankara, 06500 Ankara, Turkey. Tel.: +90 543 7656176, +90 312 2025517; fax: +90 312 2024162.
Corresponding author. Gazi University Faculty of Medicine Emergency Medicine Department Besevler-Yenimahalle, Ankara, 06500 Ankara, Turkey. Tel.: +90 543 7656176, +90 312 2025517; fax: +90 312 2024162.
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Figures
Fig. 1
Flow chart of the patients
Fig. 2
Distributions of the COHb levels of the patients according to the PSI and CURB-65 groups.
Abstract
Introduction
Previous studies have shown that carbon monoxide, which is endogenously produced, is increased in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). However, it has not been studied enough whether severity of pneumonia is correlated with increased carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) concentrations in CAP. The aim of this study was to determine whether endogenous carbon monoxide levels in patients with CAP were higher compared with the control group and, if so, to determine whether COHb concentrations could predict severity in CAP.
Materials and methods
Eighty-two patients with CAP were evaluated in this cross-sectional study during a 10-month period. Demographic data, pneumonia severity index and confusion, uremia, rate respiratory, pressure blood, age>65 (CURB-65) scores, hospital admission or discharge decisions, and 30-day hospital mortality rate were recorded. In addition, 83 control subjects were included to study. The COHb concentration was measured in arterial blood sample.
Results
The levels of COHb in patients with CAP were 1.70% (minimum-maximum, 0.8-3.2), whereas those in control subjects, 1.40% (minimum-maximum, 0.8-2.9). The higher COHb concentrations in patients with CAP were statistically significant (P < .05). Concentration of COHb correlated with pneumonia severity index (P = .04, r = 0.187); however, it did not correlate with CURB-65 (P = .218, r = 0.112).
Conclusion
Although COHb concentrations show an increase in patients with pneumonia, it was concluded that this increase did not act as an indicator in diagnosis process or prediction of clinical severity for the physicians.
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