Journal of Clinical Medicine
Routinely Available Prognostic Factors for Adverse Outcomes in Adults with Complicated Parapneumonic Effusion and Empyema: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
By Madalina Alexandra Balica, Catalin Balan, Delia Huțanu and 8 others.
Abstract
Background
Pleural infection remains associated with substantial morbidity, mortality, and frequent treatment escalation. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated routinely available prognostic factors associated with adverse clinical outcomes in adults with pleural infection, including complicated parapneumonic effusion and pleural empyema.
Methods
PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to 6 July 2026. Studies evaluating routinely available clinical, biochemical, microbiological, pleural fluid, radiological, or composite prognostic factors were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). Comparable data were synthesized using random-effects meta-analysis.