2.1 Patients
We analysed data from a prospective observational study aimed to
evaluate the incidence of major vascular events in hospitalized adult
patients with pneumonia (clinical.trial.gov: NCT01773863).
This cohort study prospectively recruited and followed up patients
referred to 3 medical centres from the University-Hospital Policlinico
Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy: Department of Internal
Medicine and Medical Specialties, Department of Clinical Medicine,
Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases).
We enrolled adults who met the following criteria: 1) age ≥18 years; 2)
clinical presentation of an acute illness with at least two or more of
the signs or symptoms of CAP, as previously reported 4 and 3) presence
of new consolidation(s) on chest X-ray.12 Pneumonia
was defined as CAP diagnosed upon hospitalization in a patient who did
not meet the criteria for healthcare-associated
pneumonia.13
Exclusion criteria were: immunosuppression (HIV infection, chemotherapy,
high dose of immunosuppressive agents to prevent the rejection of
transplanted organs and tissues or to treat autoimmune diseases);
critical illness requiring admission to an intensive care
unit,14 presence of malignancy; pregnancy or
breastfeeding; documented severe allergy to antibiotics;
healthcare-associated pneumonia.13
All patients with CAP admitted to the 3 units after giving written
informed consent from October 2011 to January 2016, were prospectively
recruited and followed up. The present study was conducted according to
the principles stated in the Declaration of Helsinki. The study was
approved by the local Ethics Committee Prot. n. 864/11.