The Prognostic Factors of Pneumonia with Septic Shock in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department

Background: Pneumonia is the most common cause of death among patients with infectious disease in Korea. However, studies of pneumonia with septic shock in patients presenting to the emergency department are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic factors associated with pneumonia with septic shock in patients presenting to the emergency department. Methods: From January 2008 to September 2014, patients with pneumonia with septic shock admitted through the emergency department were retrospectively examined. Results: Of the 561,845 patients who visited the emergency department, 398 were admitted for pneumonia with septic shock. The 28-day mortality rate in these patients was 36.4%. The independent prognostic factors were old age (>70 yrs) (odds ratio [OR], 2.42; 95%, confidence interval [CI], 1.35–4.32), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01–1.08), leukopenia (OR, 3.63; 95% CI, 1.48–8.94), prolonged PT-INR (OR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.41–4.54), and hypoxemia (OR, 2.88; 95% CI, 1.30–6.38). Conclusions: A poor prognosis of patients with pneumonia is associated with old age (>70 yrs), increased APACHE II score, leukopenia, prolonged PT-INR, and hypoxemia.