[Relationship between stroke-associated pneumonia and long-term outcomes of ischemic stroke].

OBJECTIVE

To study the relationship between stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) and long-term outcomes of ischemic stroke (IS).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The study included 95 patients with acute IS; Group 1 included 41 patients with SAP history; Group 2 included 54 patients without infectious complications in the acute period of IS. The severity of neurological deficit, the ability to self-care (NIHSS scale, Barthel Index), and the state of cognitive functions (MMSE, MoCA scales) were assessed at hospitalization, on days 5 and 11 of IS, after 6 and 12 months. Blood cell composition, neutrophils/monocytes ratio (NMR), and C-reactive protein were also assessed.

RESULTS

The risk of developing SAP was significantly higher in older IS patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and a more pronounced baseline neurological deficit (p<0.05 for all conditions). Patients with SAP have a significantly higher hospital mortality and a more severe neurological deficit and cognitive impairment at discharge. After 6 months, the severity of neurological and cognitive impairment in patients with and without SAP was not significantly different.

CONCLUSION

The presence of SAP slows down the recovery of impaired functions in patients with IS for six months from the onset of the disease. NMR is a sensitive marker of SAP.