Background and Objective: Pneumonia has been shown to be an important factor in the development of cardiovascular complications, particularly among patients with Heart Failure (HF). The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of P. aeruginosa pneumonia in the development of cardiovascular diseases

Methodologies: The study included 92 (100%) patients with HFrEF and HFmrEF, NYHA class II-IV, of whom 51 (55%) were confirmed to have P. aeruginosa pneumonia (Group I) and 41 (45%) were confirmed to have pneumonia caused by S. pneumoniae, S. aureus (Group II). The median follow-up was 20±2.3 days. The endpoints were death due to cardiovascular complications, lower limb venous thrombosis, acute coronary syndrome.

Results: The two groups analyzed had similar ages, genders and NT-proBNP levels. The occurrence of pneumonia caused by P. aeruginosa in patients with HF increased the risk of cardiac death by 8.843-fold (95% CI 1.190-65.699, p=0.004), acute coronary syndrome by 8.039-fold (95% CI 1.073-60.248, p=0.014), and lower extremity venous thrombosis by 9.647-fold (95% CI 1.308-71.153, p=0.004). Regression analysis showed that the most significant predictors of the development of cardiovascular complications were leukocytosis (OR 2.412; 95% CI 1.399-4.158; p= 0.048), increased C-reactive protein (OR 3.115; 95% CI 1.611-6.025; p<0.001), hypoproteinemia (OR 5.225; 95% CI 1.249-21.854; p=0.012) and decreased hemoglobin (OR 2.119; 95% CI 1.212-3.707; p<0.001). ROC analysis determined the threshold values of the leukocytosis more than 11x109/l (AUC = 0.784, sensitivity 81.2%, specificity 78.8%, p<0.001), C- reactive protein more than 133 mg/l (AUC = 0.790, sensitivity 75%, specificity 89%, p=0.001), hypoproteinemia less than 57 g/l (AUC = 0.957, sensitivity 92.3%, specificity 93.7%, p<0.001) and hemoglobin less than 110 g/l (AUC = 0.816, sensitivity 92.9%, specificity 68.7%, p<0.001).

Conclusion: HF patients with P. aeruginosa pneumonia have significantly higher risk of developing cardiovascular complications than patients with pneumonia caused by other pathogens.