Gorelik O, et al. - This study was designed to determine the clinical characteristics and the prognostic significance of changes in mean platelet volume (MPV) during hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Researchers concluded that during hospitalization for CAP, a rising MPV vs no rise in MPV was related to a more severe clinical profile. In addition, data revealed that in-hospital and long-term mortality was strongly predicted by a rise in MPV.

Methods

• Study participants included a total of 976 adults hospitalized for CAP.
• According to ΔMPV (MPV on discharge minus MPV on admission), clinical characteristics, in-hospital outcomes (transfer to the intensive care unit, treatment with mechanical ventilation, prolonged hospital stay and death), and all-cause mortality following discharge were compared between the study participants.
• Patients were divided into group A (no rising MPV, ΔMPV < 0.6 fL) and group B (rising MPV, ΔMPV ≥ 0.6 fL)

Results

• As per data, 83.8% and 16.2% of patients were allocated to groups A and B, respectively.
• Patients with a rise in MPV vs patients without rise in MPV were more likely to be older, and to present with renal dysfunction, cerebrovascular disorder and severe pneumonia.
• On discharge, group B patients had lower values of platelets and higher levels of neutrophils.
• The need for mechanical ventilation and in-hospital death were strongly predicted by rising MPV (the respective relative risks: 2.62 and 6.79; 95% confidence intervals: 1.54–4.45 and 3.48–13.20).
• Findings also demonstrated that the respective 90-day, 3-year and total (median follow-up of 54 months) mortality rates were significantly higher in group B (29.1%, 43.0% and 50.0%) than group A (7.3%, 24.2% and 32.6%), p < 0.001 for all comparisons.
• In addition, data reported that a rise in MPV was a powerful predictor of all-cause mortality (relative risk 1.26 and 95% confidence interval 1.11–1.43).