Table 1 Clinical characteristics of patients in three groups

Sex (n)

0.98^a

Male

59

59

60

Female

41

41

40

Average age (mean ± SD)

62.50 ± 4.98

59.94 ± 2.61

58.67 ± 2.42

0.57^a

 ≥ 60 years (n)

67

60

62

 < 60 years (n)

33

40

38

Clinical symptoms (n, %)

Cough/expectoration

88

89

92

0.63^a

Wet rales

59

55

64

0.43^a

Fever

37

29

34

0.47^a

Chest tightness/chest pain

32

28

32

0.77^a

Dyspnea

5

2

3

0.48^b

Laboratory examination results

White blood cell count (10⁹/L)

7.43 ± 0.84

7.56 ± 0.91

7.47 ± 1.02

0.78

Neutrophil percentage

72.3 ± 8.73

74.5 ± 5.49

74.9 ± 7.31

0.72

C-reactive protein (mg/L)

5.92 ± 0.98

6.24 ± 1.03

6.17 ± 1.21

0.66

Procalcitonin (ng/mL)

4.81 ± 0.77

4.52 ± 0.68

4.42 ± 0.59

0.89

Sample types

0.62^b

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid

86

86

90

Pleural effusion

8

11

8

Blood

6

3

2