Clinical-radiological features and oxidative stress in patients with community-acquired pneumonia and heart failure

Background and Objective Diagnosing community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) can be challenging. This study aimed to examine the clinical and paraclinical diagnostic characteristics, along with oxidative stress (OS) markers, in individuals suffering from both CAP and CHF. Methods A total of 210 patients were enrolled and divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 105) – patients with CAP associated with CHF and group 2 (n = 105) – patients with CAP without CHF. Key Content and Findings Worsening of dyspnoea was present in 98 (93.3%) patients in group 1, compared to group 2 – 73 (69.5%) patients, P < 0.0001. Bilateral extension of pneumonia was more frequent in group 1 compared to group 2: 63 (60.0%) patients versus 57 (54.3%) patients, respectively, P = 0.515. The presence of pleural effusion was more common in group 1 compared to group 2: 41 (39.0%) patients versus 14 (13.3%) patients, P < 0.0001. The total antioxidant activity (AAT), by CUPRAC method, had higher values in group 1 (6.70 ± 4.62) versus group 2 (4.99 ± 4.29), P = 0.006. Conclusions Bilateral extension of pneumonia, presence of pleural effusion, worsening of preexisting dyspnoea and the elevation of total antioxidant activity values (CUPRAC method) are useful tools in the early diagnosis of CAP in patients with CHF.