ABSTRACT
Objectives: Pneumonia is one of the most common complications of stroke with significant impact on patients’ outcome. The aim of this study is to look for the predictors of stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) and its 30-day mortality and to analyse the survival of ischaemic stroke patients with pneumonia. Methodology: This is a prospective observational study, involving all acute first time ischaemic stroke patients admitted to a tertiary hospital that fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria over a 6-month period. Demographic data were obtained on admission. Patients were reassessed for SAP, on day 5 and day 30. Assessment was done using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, Barthel index and modified Rankin scale (MRS). All patients with pneumonia were assessed with the pneumonia severity index (PSI) for SAP. Results: One hundred and twenty patients were enrolled consecutively within the 6-month study period. 15.8% developed SAP. Independent predictors of SAP were clinical dysphagia (OR 76.32; 95%CI 4.46 to 1307.05), random blood glucose (RBS) on admission (OR 1.34; 95%CI 1.06 to 1.68) and NIHSS score on admission (OR 1.15; 95%CI 1.02 to 1.30). Independent predictors for 30-day mortality were NIHSS score on day 5 (OR 1.20; 95%CI 1.08 to 1.33) and occurrence of pneumonia (OR 14.90; 95% CI 3.34 to 66.42). There was a significant difference in mean survival between SAP and non-SAP patients. Conclusions: Clinical dysphagia, RBS on admission and NIHSS score on admission were independent predictors of SAP. NIHSS score on day 5 and pneumonia were independent predictors of 30-day mortality. SAP patients had shorter survival time compared to non-SAP patients.
ABSTRACT
Objective To assess the risk factors for pneumonia in patients with acute stroke. Methods Three hundred and forty patients with acute stroke were studied, and risk factors for pneumonia such as demographics, history of hypertension, diabetes and smoking, initial blood pressure, body temperature, fasting plasma glucose level, C-reactive protein, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale ( NIHSS) scores, degree of dysphagia and mechanical ventilation were evaluated. Besides, the correlation between incidence of pneumonia and pneumonia scores in patients with acute stroke was studied. Results Pneumonia was developed in 63 patients (18.5%). Logistic regression analysis revealed that age, gender, initial NIHSS scores, dysphagia and mechanical ventilation were independent predictors for pneumonia (P <0.05). The incidence of pneumonia gradually increased with the pneumonia scores. Conclusion The occurrence of pneumonia after acute stroke is associated with older age, male gender, high NIHSS scores, dysphagia and mechanical ventilation. The pneumonia scores can be adopted to identify the risks of pneumonia after acute stroke.