Predictors of pneumonia in stroke patients with dysphagia: A Turkish study

Background and purpose – Dysphagia, characterized by difficulty in swallowing due to neurological deficits, stands out as the foremost contributor to stroke associated pneumonia (SAP) development. Recent investigations have explored the utility of blood tests, including parameters like neutrophil count, leukocyte count, neutrophil-tolymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and the CRP to albumin ratio (CAR), at the time of admission as potential markers for predicting SAP development. This study is set out to assess predictors of SAP in patients with acute ischemic stroke and dysphagia. Methods – This retrospective cross-sectional study, conducted at the University of Health Sciences, Neurology Department of Erenkoy Mental Health Neurological Disorders in Istanbul, Turkey, between January 2021 and January 2023, assessed 65 individuals with acute ischemic stroke and dysphagia. Excluding specific criteria, clinical and laboratory data were collected. Patients were categorized into SAP and non-SAP groups based on diagnostic criteria. Results provide insights into risk factors of SAP. Results – In this study of 65 stroke patients with dysphagia, 27 (41.5%) developed SAP within the first week. No significant differences in age, gender, comorbidities, or infarct size were observed between the pneumoniapositive and pneumonia-negative groups (p > 0.05). HbA1c levels were significantly lower in the pneumonia-positive group (p = 0.02). Logistic regression revealed that NLR, CAR levels, and the presence of atrial fibrillation (AF) were significant predictors of pneumonia development (p < 0.001). Conclusion – Dysphagia is considered one of the most significant risk factors for SAP. However not all ischemic stroke patients with dysphagia develop SAP; that is the reason we think NLR, CAR, and AF might be predictors of SAP in acute ischemic stroke patients with dysphagia.