Risk factors for pulmonary infection in patients with acute cerebral infarction

Objective To explore the risk factors of pulmonary infection in patients with acute cerebral infarction. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 417 patients admitted for acute cerebral infarction in our hospital between April and December, 2017. We compared the data between the patients with and without pulmonary infection, and analyzed the risk factors for pulmonary infection following acute cerebral infarction using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results There were significant differences in age, gender, length of hospital stay, smoking, history of previous lung disease, coronary heart disease, hyperlipidemia, dysphagia, consciousness disturbance at admission, complete bed rest, invasive operation, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) score at admission between the pulmonary infection group(n=92) and the non-pulmonary infection group(n=325) (P < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis suggested that NIHSS score>14 at admission, age>65 years, invasive operation, and complete bed rest were risk factors for pulmonary infection in patients with acute cerebral infarction(OR=5.410, 2.714, 21.823, 3.013, 95%CI:1.835~15.953, 1.257~5.587, 10.265~46.393, 1.365~6.651, all P < 0.05). Conclusion NIHSS score at admission, age, invasive operation and complete bed rest may be regarded as reference indexes in the prevention and treatment of pulmonary infection after acute cerebral infarction.