Estado funcional de idosos com pneumonia adquirida na comunidade internados em um hospital em um município no interior do Amazonas

Abstract

Introduction: Pneumonia is an acute inflammation of the lung parenchyma, with Streptococcus pneumoniae being the primary causative agent of the bacterial form. Classification depends on the setting where the infection was acquired; Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) is defined as pneumonia occurring outside healthcare facilities or manifesting within 48 hours of hospital admission. Method: This is a cross-sectional, observational, prospective study conducted between July 2025 and April 2026. The study population consisted of elderly individuals (≥ 60 years old) residing in Coari, Amazonas (AM), who were admitted to the medical ward of the Dr. Odair Carlos Geraldo Regional Hospital due to Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP). Results: Thirty-three subjects participated in the study; 57.6% were male, 53.1% self-identified as pardo (mixed-race), and 93.4% were urban residents. Family income ranged from 1 to 3 minimum wages; 48.5% had 2–3 pre-existing comorbidities, and 72.7% had a history of regular smoking. The mean length of hospital stay was 4 ± 4 days, and 63.6% were classified as low-risk regarding disease severity. Discussion: The results reveal a profile of elderly individuals with significant social and clinical vulnerabilities, characterized by low levels of education, multiple comorbidities, and low vaccination rates. Furthermore, the findings demonstrated a significant interplay among peripheral muscle strength, respiratory function, cognition, and functional mobility in elderly patients hospitalized with CAP. The study observed that participants classified as intermediate risk on the CURB-65 scale, those with a score > 2 on the Borg scale, those exhibiting an abdominal breathing pattern, and those with a history of regular smoking scored higher on the WHODAS 2.0 questionnaire. Among the findings, a strong correlation stood out between manovacuometry and dynamometry (R=0.618; p=0.001), demonstrating that individuals with greater handgrip strength exhibit better respiratory muscle strength. Furthermore, there was a very strong correlation between the De Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI) and the MRC scale score (R=0.837; p=0.001), highlighting that peripheral muscle strength has a direct impact on the in-hospital mobility of elderly patients with pneumonia. Conclusion: These findings reinforce the need for preventive strategies aimed at health promotion—including expanded vaccine coverage in this population—as well as the importance of multidisciplinary care and the early identification of associated risk factors.