ALB and Pleural effusion: Following the procedures described in the Statistical Analysis section, the following variables were entered into a backward stepwise logistic regression analysis: obesity, smoking history, cardiovascular disease, chronic pulmonary disease (COPD), altered mental status, leukocytes > 10 × 109/L, lymphocytes < 0.8 × 109/L, hemoglobin (Hb) < 100 g/L, albumin (ALB) < 35 g/L, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) > 7 mmol/L, arterial PH < 7.35, pO2/FiO2 ≤ 250 mmHg, multilobar infiltrates, pleural effusion, early NAI therapy, systemic corticosteroid use, and coinfections.