Introducction: the early identification and determinacion of the severity of the disease are of vital importance in the management of patients with community- acquired pneumonia (CAP). Objetive: no prospective studies evaluating the validity of the Saldías Index exist in Perú; an attempt was made to determine the precision of the complex and simple Saldías Indices in the prediction of mortality in CAP. Materials and methods: This is a prospective study, developed from april 2001 to october 2002, in the Hospital Alberto Sabogal of Bellavista, Callao. 152 adult patients with CAP, confirmed by chest x-rays, were included. All the patients were followed to Hospital release or death. Results: The mean age of the participants was 72,8 years. 36,8% of the patients died; the main causes of death were septic shock (27,2%) and multiple organ failure (22,7%). There was no significant differen...

Introducction: the early identification and determinacion of the severity of the disease are of vital importance in the management of patients with community- acquired pneumonia (CAP). Objetive: no prospective studies evaluating the validity of the Saldías Index exist in Perú; an attempt was made to determine the precision of the complex and simple Saldías Indices in the prediction of mortality in CAP. Materials and methods: This is a prospective study, developed from april 2001 to october 2002, in the Hospital Alberto Sabogal of Bellavista, Callao. 152 adult patients with CAP, confirmed by chest x-rays, were included. All the patients were followed to Hospital release or death. Results: The mean age of the participants was 72,8 years. 36,8% of the patients died; the main causes of death were septic shock (27,2%) and multiple organ failure (22,7%). There was no significant differen...