Logistic risk factors and clinical value of dynamic monitoring of immune response and oxidative stress in elderly retired athletes with severe pneumonia

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to identify logistic risk factors for severe pneumonia (SP) in elderly retired athletes and assess the clinical significance of dynamically monitoring their immune response and oxidative stress levels. Methods: From February 2019 to April 2021, 60 elderly SP patients treated at our hospital were selected as the study group, alongside 60 elderly patients with common pneumonia as controls. We compared immune function and oxidative stress markers between groups and analyzed SP risk factors in this demographic. Results: The study group, compared to controls, showed significant differences in BMI, smoking history, past medical history, recent ICU stays, length of hospital stay, pre-admission antibiotic use, and costs (P<0.05). Lower levels of Immunoglobulin A (IgA), Immunoglobulin M (IgM), Immunoglobulin G (IgG), and CD4+/CD8+ ratios were observed in the study group (P<0.05), along with decreased oxidative stress markers (LPO, SOD, GSH-Px) (P<0.05). Pearson correlation revealed negative correlations between IgA, IgM, IgG, CD4+/CD8+, LPO, and SP incidence, whereas SOD and GSH-Px levels showed positive correlations (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression highlighted that a history of malignancy, prolonged bed rest, recent ICU admission, length of hospital stay, immune, and oxidative stress markers significantly contribute to SP risk in elderly patients (P<0.05). The diagnostic accuracy (AUC) of immune and oxidative stress markers for elderly SP was notable, with combined indices showing even higher predictive value (P<0.05). Conclusion: In elderly retired athletes, factors such as past malignancies, long-term immobility, recent ICU stays, and specific immune and oxidative stress indices are crucial risk factors for SP. Monitoring these indicators can significantly aid in diagnosing and prognosticating SP in elderly populations, suggesting that targeted interventions addressing these risk factors could improve outcomes in this vulnerable group.