Biomarker‐derived diagnostic tool superior to lung ultrasound for detecting pneumonia

In this prospective, single‐center, cohort study, 132 patients 65 years and older, with suspected acute pneumonia, underwent lung ultrasound and standard chest X‐ray. The influence of age, sex, multimorbidity, cognitive impairment, and clinical biomarkers in the misdiagnosis of acute pneumonia were assessed before a diagnostic tool based on the combination of biomarkers (brain natriuretic peptide, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein, and partial pressure arterial oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio) and lung ultrasound were analyzed.

In total, 94 patients were diagnosed with acute pneumonia with lung ultrasound having higher diagnostic accuracy compared with chest X-ray. A higher degree of cognitive impairment was associated with misdiagnosis with lung ultrasound and chest X-ray.

The diagnostic tool, Pneumonia Lung Ultrasound Score, was more accurate in diagnosing acute pneumonia than lung ultrasound.

Reference

Linsalata G, Okoye C, Antognoli R, et al. Pneumonia Lung Ultrasound Score (PLUS): A new tool for detecting pneumonia in the oldest patients. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2020; https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.16783