Time-dependent cardiovascular risks following pneumonia in inpatient and outpatient settings: A register-based cohort study

Background

The elevated long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks associated with pneumonia have been observed among inpatients, yet the risks associated with outpatients are less understood.

Methods

We used register-based data and a matched cohort design, including 98,354 pneumonia inpatients and 44,486 outpatients, as well as a 5-fold number of matched healthy controls. Associations between pneumonia presentation (in inpatient and outpatient settings) and long-term CVD risks were measured by rate difference and hazard ratio (HR) using Poisson and Cox regressions in a time-dependent manner.

Results

During a maximum follow-up period of 5.7 years of ischemic heart disease (IHD), heart failure (HF), and stroke were documented among pneumonia inpatients.

Relative to healthy controls, pneumonia patients showed increased risks of IHD, HF, and stroke. Women and young inpatients demonstrated stronger associations of CVD with pneumonia; inpatients aged 60 years or older showed the highest excessive CVD risks.

Conclusions

Pneumonia demanding outpatient and inpatient cares are intermediate-term and long-term risk factors of incident CVDs respectively, underscoring the need to plan setting-specific and time-dependent CVD-preventive cares following pneumonia presentation.