The role of <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> pneumonia in the development of cardiovascular events in patients with heart failure

Aim. To assess the contribution of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia to the development of cardiovascular events in patients with heart failure (HF).Material and methods. The study included 219 patients who were divided into a group of patients with pneumonia caused by P. aeruginosa (Group I) and a group of patients with pneumonia caused by S. aureus, S. pneumoniae (Group II). All patients underwent chest computed tomography (CT), blood tests, echocardiography, electrocardiography (ECG), 24-hour Holter ECG monitoring, pulse oximetry (SpO2), and Doppler ultrasound of the lower limb veins.Results. According to the study, cardiovascular events were more often observed in the group of patients with P. aeruginosa pneumonia as follows: death from cardiovascular events was registered in 11,4% of patients in group I and 0% of patients in group II (p=0,001); acute coronary syndrome — in 8,7 vs 0% (p=0,002), lower limb thrombosis — in 14 vs 1,9% (p=0,001). The occurrence of P. aeruginosa pneumonia in patients with HF increased the cardiovascular death risk by 8,8 times (95% confidence interval (CI): 1,2-65,7; p=0,005), acute coronary syndrome — in 8,0 times (95% CI: 1,1-60,2; p=0,014), lower limb thrombosis — in 9,6 times (95% CI: 1,3-71,2; p=0,004).Conclusion. Patients with HF and P. aeruginosa pneumonia are at greater risk of cardiovascular events than patients with pneumonia caused by S. pneumonia and S. aureus.