A Meta-analysis of the Risk Factors for Stroke-associated Pneumonia

This study aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to assess the possible risk factors of stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP). A comprehensive search of PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane Library was gathered from 2000 to April 2022. A case-control study evaluating the risk factors of SAP was selected. The major finding of this study was that dysphagia, atrial fibrillation, gender, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension were risk factors that determine the development of SAP. The random-effects strategy was used to highlight study-specific outcomes. Only 14 papers out of 651 met the criteria for inclusion and were included in the study. The quality of this study was generally excellent. Risk factors associated with SAP were gender (pooled OR 1.48,95% CI 1.18-1.85), dysphagia (pooled OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.97-3.46), atrial fibrillation (pooled OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.68-2.57), diabetes mellitus (pooled OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.17-1.49), hypertension (pooled OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.05-1.34). This research is crucial because some risk factors are easily recognised, and patients with one or more of these risk factors were developing SAP. Disorders such as dysphagia, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, and hypertension should be addressed and managed to reduce the incidence of SAP conundrums. Key Words: Ischemic stroke, Pneumonia, Risk factor.