Table 1. Identifying the level of risk in CAP patients: The risk factors and how they are scored

Patient Characteristic Points Assigned*
Demographic Factors (Age) Males Age (in years)
Females Age (in years) -10
Nursing home residents +10
Comorbid Illnesses Neoplastic disease +30
Liver disease +20
Congestive heart failure +10
Cerebrovascular disease +10
Renal disease +10
Physical Examination Findings Altered mental status +20
Respiratory rate 30 breaths per minute or more +20
Systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg +20
Temperature < 35°C or 40°C or more +15
Pulse 125 beats per minute or more +10
Laboratory findings pH < 7.35 +30
BUN > 10.7 mmol/L +20
Sodium less than 130 /L +20
Glucose > 13.9 mmol/L +10
Hematocrit < 30 percent +10
Partial pressure of arterial oxygen < 60 mm Hg +10¹
Pleural effusion +10

*A risk score (total point score) for a given patient is obtained by summing the patient age in years (age minus 10 for females) and the points for each applicable patient characteristic.

¹Oxygen saturation < 90 percent was considered abnormal in the Pneumonia PORT cohort study. The application of the PSI to the initial site of treatment decision (translational research) combines the PSI risk score and in addition considers the status of arterial oxygenation when used to guide the initial site of treatment.


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