Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40520925›Full record

ArticleJournal of the Intensive Care Society2026

Biomarkers for pneumonia after major trauma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Fiona Howroyd, Amanda Veiga Sardeli, Fang Gao Smith, Tonny Veenith, Niharika A Duggal, Zubair Ahmed

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of the Intensive Care Society, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Fiona HowroydDepartment of Inflammation and Ageing, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2306-3376
Amanda Veiga SardeliDepartment of Inflammation and Ageing, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Fang Gao SmithDepartment of Inflammation and Ageing, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Tonny VeenithCritical Care Department, Royal Wolverhampton Hospital, Wolverhampton, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4125-8804
Niharika A DuggalDepartment of Inflammation and Ageing, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Zubair AhmedDepartment of Inflammation and Ageing, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6267-6442

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Major trauma is a significant global health issue. Pneumonia poses an additional risk for morbidity and mortality after major trauma yet identifying pneumonia remains challenging in clinical practice. This systematic review aims to evaluate blood-based biomarkers for pneumonia in major trauma patients. Methods: The search was performed across four databases up to November 18th 2024, including primary studies investigating blood-based biomarkers associated with pneumonia in adults hospitalised after major trauma (PROSPERO CRD42024542059). Risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-E tool and meta-analysis was performed of pooled data. Results: Among 20 included studies, with a total of 4316 participants, the pooled mean pneumonia rate was 32.7% (23.5%-43.4%). Seventy biomarkers for post-operative pneumonia were identified, with meta-analysis possible for 12 of the reported biomarkers. At admission interleukin (IL)-6 (standardised mean difference: 1.41 (0.04-2.77), Conclusions: While we identified potential candidate biomarkers for pneumonia in major trauma patients, the high heterogeneity across trauma populations, clinical diagnostic tools and biomarker testing methods warrants further high-quality studies to confirm their clinical value.

Indexed as

blood biomarkersMajor injurypneumoniarespiratory infectiontrauma

Identifiers

PMID40520925
PMCPMC12165960

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.