Acetylsalicylic acid use is associated with improved survival in bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia: A long‐term nationwide study

BACKGROUND: Pneumonia is commonly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and associated with subsequent cardiovascular complications and increased mortality. Potential short‐term survival benefits conferred by acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) use in pneumonia remain controversial, and long‐term outcomes have not been studied. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between ASA use and survival for up to 1 year following bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia. METHODS: All bacteremic pneumococcal episodes in Iceland from 1975 to 2019 were reviewed. The study cohort consisted of individuals at least 18 years of age with symptoms and imaging results consistent with pneumonia. Differences in survival were assessed at 30 days, 90 days and 1 year using propensity score weighting (inverse probability weighting). Splitting and stratifying on survival at 7 days was done for the 30‐day survival, because of nonproportionality. RESULTS: In total, 815 bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia episodes (median age 67 years, females 48%) were identified. Cox regression using propensity score weighting on the association of ASA with survival at 30 days showed an average hazard ratio (HR) of 0.60 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.34–1.05). A significantly improved survival was observed within 7 days (HR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.19–0.92) but not during days 7–30 (HR = 1.08, 95% CI 0.46–2.55). ASA was associated with survival at 90 days (HR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.32–0.87) and 1 year (HR = 0.48, 95% CI 0.31–0.75). CONCLUSION: Use of ASA upon admission for bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia is associated with significantly reduced mortality for up to 1 year after diagnosis. ASA therapy in patients with pneumonia and other infectious syndromes warrants further study.