Introduction:

community-acquired pneumonia is an important health problem around the world. It is the third cause of death in the world. The best treatment for these patients has not been still clearly stablished.

Objective:

to assess the impact of the use of steroids by systemic way on the mortality of patients with community-acquired pneumonia and to establish the relationship the leukogramm, creatinine and oxygen arterial pressure (presión arterial de oxígeno) values.

Materials and methods:

prospective, longitudinal, analytic study of the patients with community-acquired pneumonia who entered the intensive care unit of the Military Hospital “Dr. Carlos J. Finlay” in the period January-June 2017. In a universe of 85 patients, the sample was formed by 48 patients randomly divided in two groups. Both groups receive the same drugs combination; the first group was given Hydrocortisone 4 mg/kg/day for five days while the second one was not administered steroid at all.

Results:

patients were aged 80±11 years and 77±11 years. 20 patients who stayed alive took steroids, and 14 who did not take them died. X2=0.04. The average leucogramma was Group 1=17 and Group 2=13, with p=0.77. The oxygen arterial pressure was Group 1=102 and Group 2=95. Creatinine value was Group 1=156 and Group2=177 with p=0.323.

Conclusions:

The steroids use in patients with community-acquired pneumonia could reduce mortality at a short time, without significant differences in the oxygenation, renal functioning or leucocytes parameters.

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