Background: A hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia results in a decrease in long-term survival in elderly patients. We assessed biomarkers at admission to predict one-year mortality in a cohort of elderly patients with pneumonia. Methods: A prospective observational study included patients >65 years hospitalized with pneumonia. Assessment of PSI, CURB-65, and biomarkers (C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), NT-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), interleukin (IL)-6 and -8, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), serum amyloid A (SAA), neopterin (NP), myeloperoxidase (MPO), anti-apolipoprotein A-1 IgG (anti-apoA-1), and anti-phosphorylcholine IgM (anti-PC IgM)) was used to calculate prognostic values for one-year mortality using ROC curve analyses. Post hoc optimal cutoffs with corresponding sensitivity (SE) and specificity (SP) were determined using the Youden index. Results: A total of 133 patients were included (median age 83 years [IQR: 78–89]). Age, dementia, BMI, NT-proBNP (AUROC 0.65 (95% CI: 0.55–0.77)), and IL-8 (AUROC 0.66 (95% CI: 0.56–0.75)) were significantly associated with mortality, with NT-proBNP (HR 1.01 (95% CI 1.00–1.02) and BMI (HR 0.92 (95% CI 0.85–1.000) being independent of age, gender, comorbidities, and PSI with Cox regression. At the cutoff value of 2200 ng/L, NT-proBNP had 67% sensitivity and 70% specificity. PSI and CURB-65 were not associated with mortality. Conclusions: NT-proBNP levels upon admission and BMI displayed the highest prognostic accuracy for one-year mortality and may help clinicians to identify patients with poor long-term prognosis.

Background: Pneumonia has an impact on long-term mortality in elderly patients. The risk factors associated with poor long-term outcomes are understated. We aimed to assess the ability of scores that evaluate patients’ comorbidities (cumulative illness rating scale—geriatric, CIRS-G), malnutrition (mini nutritional assessment, MNA) and functionality (functional independence measure, FIM) to predict 1-year mortality in a cohort of older patients having a suspicion of pneumonia. Methods: Our prospective study included consecutive patients over 65 years old and hospitalized with a suspicion of pneumonia enrolled in a monocentric cohort from May 2015 to April 2016. Each score was analysed in univariate and multivariate models and logistic regressions were used to identify contributors to 1-year mortality. Results: 200 patients were included (51% male, mean age 83.8 ± 7.7). Their 1-year mortality rate was 30%. FIM (p < 0.01), CIRS-G (p < 0.001) and MNA (p < 0.001) were strongly associated with poorer long-term outcomes in univariate analysis. CIRS-G (p < 0.05) and MNA (p < 0.05) were significant predictors of 1-year mortality in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Long-term prognosis of patients hospitalized for pneumonia was poor and we identified that scores assessing comorbidities and malnutrition seem to be important predictors of 1-year mortality. This should be taken into account for evaluating elderly patients’ prognosis, levels and goals of care.

Background: Mechanisms and causes of death in older patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection are still poorly understood. Methods: We conducted in a retrospective monocentric study, a clinical chart review and post-mortem examination of patients aged 75 years and older hospitalized in acute care and positive for SARS-CoV-2. Full body autopsy and correlation with clinical findings and suspected causes of death were done. Results: Autopsies were performed in 12 patients (median age 85 years; median of 4 comorbidities, mainly hypertension and cardiovascular disease). All cases showed exudative or proliferative phases of alveolar damage and/or a pattern of organizing pneumonia. Causes of death were concordant in 6 cases (50%), and undetected diagnoses were found in 6. Five patients died from hypoxemic respiratory failure due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), five had another associated diagnosis and two died from alternative causes. Deaths that occurred in the second week were related to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia whereas those occurring earlier were related mainly to heart failure and those occurring later to complications. Conclusions: Although COVID-19 hypoxemic respiratory failure was the most common cause of death, post-mortem pathological examination revealed that acute decompensation from chronic comorbidities during the first week of COVID-19 and complications in the third week contributed to mortality.

Objectives Long term mortality is increased in elderly patients with pneumonia. We aimed to test if residual inflammation is predictive of one-year mortality after pneumonia. Methods Inflammation biomarkers (CRP, Interleukin (IL)-6 and -8, TNFα, Serum Amyloid A, Neopterin, Myeloperoxidase, anti-Apolipoprotein A-1, and anti-Phosphorylcholine IgM) were measured at admission and discharge in elderly patients hospitalized for pneumonia in a prospective study. Univariate and multivariate analysis were conducted using absolute level at discharge and relative and absolute differences between admission and discharge for all biomarkers, along with usual prognostic factors. Results 133 patients (median age 83 years (IQR: 78-89)) were included; one-year mortality was 26%. In univariate analysis, the relative difference of CRP levels had the higher AUC (0.70 (95% CI 0.60-0.80)). A decrease of CRP levels more than 67% between admission and discharge had 68% sensitivity and 68% specificity to predict survival. In multivariate analysis, lower BMI (HR=0.87 (CI 95% 0.79-0.96), p= 0.01), higher IL-8 (HR=1.02 (CI 95% 1.00-1.04), p=0.02) and higher CRP (1.01 [95% CI: 1.00-1.02] p=0.01) at discharge were independently associated with mortality. Conclusion Higher IL-8 and CRP levels at discharge were independently associated with one-year mortality. The relative CRP difference during hospitalization was the best individual biomarker to predict one-year mortality.

The article “Pneumonia prevention in the elderly patients: the other sides” written by Najla Chebib, Clémence Cuvelier, Astrid Malézieux–Picard

Not all antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 inhibit viral entry, and hence, infection. Neutralizing antibodies are more likely to reflect real immunity; however, certain tests investigate protein/protein interaction rather than the fusion event. Viral and pseudoviral entry assays detect functionally active antibodies but are limited by biosafety and standardization issues. We have developed a Spike/ACE2-dependent fusion assay, based on a split luciferase. Hela cells stably transduced with Spike and a large fragment of luciferase were co-cultured with Hela cells transduced with ACE2 and the complementary small fragment of luciferase. Cell fusion occurred rapidly allowing the measurement of luminescence. Light emission was abolished in the absence of Spike and reduced in the presence of proteases. Sera from COVID-19-negative, non-vaccinated individuals or from patients at the moment of first symptoms did not lead to a significant reduction of fusion. Sera from COVID-19-positive patients as well as from vaccinated individuals reduced the fusion. This assay was more correlated to pseudotyped-based entry assay rather than serology or competitive ELISA. In conclusion, we report a new method measuring fusion-inhibitory antibodies in serum, combining the advantage of a complete Spike/ACE2 interaction active on entry with a high degree of standardization, easily allowing automation in a standard bio-safety environment.