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.
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