Decreased plasma fetuin-A level as a novel bioindicator of poor prognosis in community-acquired pneumonia: A multi-center cohort study

BACKGROUND: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a respiratory disease that frequently requires hospital admission, and is a significant cause of death worldwide. Plasma fetuin-A levels were significantly lower in patients with sepsis, but data regarding CAP are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of fetuin-A as a prognostic biomarker of CAP. METHODS: A multicenter cohort study on CAP was conducted between January 2017 and December 2018. Demographic and clinical data were recorded for all enrolled patients. Plasma fetuin-A levels were determined using a quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to analyse the effect of variables on 30-day mortality. A logistic regression analysis was performed to assess risk factors associated with severe CAP (SCAP) and 30-day mortality. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to verify the association between variables and CAP prognosis. Correlations were assessed using Spearman's test. Survival curves were constructed and compared using the log-rank test. RESULTS: A total of 283 patients with CAP were enrolled in this study. Fetuin-A levels were decreased in patients with CAP, especially in SCAP and non-survivors. A cox regression analysis showed that CURB-65 and fetuin-A levels were independent prognostic indicators of 30-day mortality. Via a multiple logistic regression analysis, plasma level of fetuin-A (<202.86 mg/L) was determined to be the strongest independent predictor of 30-day mortality considered (odds ratio, 57.365), and also was also determined to be an independent predictor of SCAP. The area under the curve (AUC) of fetuin-A for predicting 30-day mortality was 0.871, and accuracy was high (P < 0.05). Plasma fetuin-A levels were negatively correlated with WBC, NE%, Glu, CRP, PCT, CURB-65, and pneumonia severity index scores and positively correlated with albumin level. Kaplan–Meier curves showed that lower plasma levels of fetuin-A levels were associated with increased 30-day mortality levels (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Plasma fetuin-A levels were decreased in patients with CAP. Fetuin-A can reliably predict mortality in patients with CAP, and is a useful diagnostic indicator of SCAP.