CHARACTERISTICS OF COMMUNITY ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA AT A SINGLE CENTER IN CENTRAL SRI LANKA DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A DESCRIPTIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Introduction and Objective:Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. The disease severity is multifactorial, co-morbid conditions and advanced age are the most important risk factors. At present, there is a sparsity in published data on CAP in Sri Lankan adults and adolescents. Aim of study to identify complications and outcome of CAP.Methods: A single center descriptive prospective study was carried out in Respiratory Unit 11 in National Hospital-Kandy, Sri Lanka, among diagnosed CAP patients during six months from 1st of September 2020 to 28th of February 2021. Data were analyzed by SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) 21 package. Results: 105 cases were analyzed; of which 35.2% had complications. Parapenumonic effusion was the commonest complication, whilst pyothorax was the rarest complication. Nine patients (24%) had multiple complications. Prevalence of complications significantly correlated with CURB 65 score (pearson correlation coefficient 0.57, p value 0.001). 93.3% of patients survived with treatment, however 6.6% of them demised with male predominance and all had at least 2 preexisting diseases. Five deaths (71.4%) occurred in the intensive care unit. During follow up, 3.8% were diagnosed with bronchial malignancy, 5.7% pulmonary tuberculosis, 2.8% other chronic infections (melioidosis) and 1.9% chronic organizing pneumonia, respectively.Conclusion:CAP is a major health concern in central Sri Lanka during COVID-19 pandemic. Most CAP patients recovered completely. Mortality 6.6% with male predominance. Parapneumonic effusion was the commonest complication. Number of Complications had significant correlation with CURB 65 score.