2020 Volume 22 Issue 4 Pages 174-182
The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is an important tool for predicting pneumonia among patients with acute stroke. This study aimed to evaluate the predictors of pneumonia at admission in patients with acute stroke, who required assistance for basic mobility using the NIHSS sub-items. A total of 111 patients with acute stroke were included, and their medical record data were collected retrospectively to analyze their NIHSS sub-item scores at admission and the incidence of pneumonia during hospitalization. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relation between the NIHSS sub-items as independent variables and the presence of pneumonia; significance was set at p < 0.05. Among the 111 patients, the incidence of pneumonia was 15.3%, and the median of NIHSS score at admission was 9 points. In the logistic regression analysis, the NIHSS sub-items, question (Odds ratio (OR) 9.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.00 ─ 44.26, p = 0.005) and facial palsy (OR 1.65, 95%CI 1.08 ─ 25.01, p = 0.040) were identified as predictors of pneumonia. The presence or absence of consciousness disorder, that cannot be answered the questions such as “What month is it now?” or “How old are you?”, and facial palsy were suggested as the predictors of pneumonia based on NIHSS sub-item scores at admission for patients with acute stroke, who required assistance for basic mobility.