The effects of age on inflammatory and coagulation-fibrinolysis response in patients hospitalized for pneumonia.

Abstract

To determine whether inflammatory and hemostasis response in patients hospitalized for pneumonia varies by age and whether these differences explain higher mortality in the elderly.In an observational cohort of subjects with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) recruited from emergency departments (ED) in 28 hospitals, we divided subjects into 5 age groups (85% subjects, older subjects had modestly increased hemostasis markers and IL-6 levels (p<0.01).Modest age-related increases in coagulation response occur during hospitalization for CAP; however these differences do not explain the large differences in mortality. Despite clinical recovery, immune resolution may be delayed in older adults at discharge.