2.1.1 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