2.1 Baseline assessment
Data regarding demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and concurrent therapy were collected after inclusion in the study. The severity of CAP was estimated by the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI), a validated prediction score for 30-day mortality in patients with CAP.15 For each patient recruited, 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and routine blood laboratory tests were immediately performed after admission. Hs-cTnT were measured at baseline and every 24 hours up to 3 days from admission and at hospital dismission.
Pre-existence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, coronary heart disease (CHD), dyslipidaemia, peripheral artery disease (PAD), COPD, heart failure (HF), chronic (persistent or permanent) atrial fibrillation (CAF) and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) were defined as previously described.16