PNEUMONIA

FREQUENCY AND FACTORS LEADING TO STROKE ASSOCIATED PNEUMONIA AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Introduction: Stroke is a major cause of death and disability globally, with an
expected rise in number of patients with ageing and economic transition of developing countries.
Pneumonia is one of the major complications after stroke. Stroke associated pneumonia
increases risk of death by three fold and is the major cause of morbidity and mortality after
the stroke. Objective: To determine the frequency and factors leading to stroke associated
pneumonia in all acute stroke patients admitted at a tertiary care hospital. Study Design: Case
series. Setting: Medical Department, Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi. Period:
six months and extended from 1st July 2015 to 31st December 2015. Material and methods:
All adult patients (age 14 years and above) admitted through emergency room in the medical
ward of Aga khan university hospital Karachi with the diagnosis of acute stroke on the basis of
MRI findings were enrolled after taking informed consent through Non purposive consecutive
sampling technique. Demographic data like age and sex were recorded. Diagnosis of stroke
associated pneumonia was made on basis of CDC criteria for pneumonia. All analyses was
conducted by using the Statistical package for social science SPSS (Release 19.0, standard
version, copyright © SPSS; 1989-02). Results: A total of 157 patients admitted with a mean age
of the inducted patients were 61.75 ± 13.91 years. According to this stratification, 23 patients
(14.65%) were aged less than 45 years and remaining 134 subjects (85.35%) were above the
age of 45 years among them 110 were males (70.1 %) and 47 were females (29.9 %). Stroke
associated pneumonia was found in 33 (21%) out of 157 patients. Out of 33 patients having
stroke associated pneumonia; 14 (42.4%) patients had Diabetes mellitus. Out of 33 patients
having stroke associated pneumonia; 28 (84.8%) patients had hypertension. Out of 33 patients
having stroke associated pneumonia; 2 (6%) had COPD. Out of 33 patients having stroke
associated pneumonia; 2(6%) had Chronic Atrial Fibrillation. Out of 33 patients having stroke
associated pneumonia; 21 (63.6%) patients had impaired swallowing. Conclusion: Stroke
associated pneumonia is the common and serious complication after stroke. All the efforts
should be taken to control various factors leading to stroke associated pneumonia like DM,
hypertension, and impaired swallowing to improve stroke outcome.