Reducing the incidence of stroke-associated pneumonia: an evidence-based practice

BMC Neurology

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the study population (n = 86)

Variables	Preimplementation group (n = 43)	Postimplementation group (n = 43)	Z/F/U/χ²	P
Age, years old	69 (64, 76)	68 (63, 74)	846.0	0.497
Sex, males	24 (55.8)	23 (53.5)	0.047	0.829
Employment			2.708	0.305^a
Employed	1 (2.4)	5 (11.6)
Retired	35 (85.4)	32 (74.4)
Unemployed	5 (12.2)	6 (14.0)
Risk factors
Hypertension	33 (76.7)	31 (72.1)	0.244	0.805
Diabetes	13 (30.2)	15 (34.9)	0.212	0.818
Dyslipidemia	10 (23.3)	12 (27.9)	0.244	0.805
Atrial fibrillation	14 (32.6)	7 (16.3)	3.087	0.131
Smoking	11 (25.6)	14 (32.6)	0.508	0.635
Alcohol consumption	4 (9.3)	8 (18.6)	1.550	0.351
Stroke etiology			2.437	0.543^a
Cardioembolism	12.3)	0 (0.0)
Large-vessel disease	24 (55.8)	30 (69.8)
Small-vessel disease	15 (34.9)	11 (25.6)
Other causes	3 (7.0)	2 (4.7)
OCSP classification			0.497	0.946
Total anterior circulation infract	7 (16.3)	7 (16.3)
Partial anterior circulation infract	24 (55.8)	25 (58.1)
Posterior circulation	6 (14.0)	7 (16.3)
Lacunar infarct	6 (14.0)	4 (9.3)
Treatment protocols				0.483^a
Drugs	37 (86.0)	40 (93.0)
Non-drugs	6 (14.0)	3 (7.0)
Admission NIHSS score	6 (3, 13)	6 (4, 10)	879.0	0.693
Admission BP, mmHg
Systolic BP	160 (140, 175)	153 (136, 175)	842.0	0.476
Diastolic BP	87 (76, 95)	91 (81, 96)	788.5	0.240
A²DS² score	6 (5, 6)	6 (5, 7)	802.5	0.262
Oral hygiene score	23 (17, 26)	22 (18, 26)	903.5	0.856
NRS-2002			0.05	1.000
≥ 3	27 (62.8)	28 (65.1)
< 3	16 (37.2)	15 (34.9)
30 ml water swallowing test			2.828	0.243
III	22 (51.2)	23 (53.5)
IV	13 (30.2)	17 (39.5)
V	8 (18.6)	3 (7.0)
The degree of dysphagia			2.729	0.395^a
3	1 (2.3)	0 (0.0)
4	28 (65.1)	23 (53.5)
5	12 (27.9)	18 (41.9)
6	2 (4.7)	2 (4.7)

^*The difference was statistically significant
^aFisher’s exact test
Results are presented as n (%), mean ± standard deviation or median (interquartile range)
OCSP Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project; NIHSS National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale; BP blood pressure; A²DS² Age, Atrial fibrillation, Dysphagia, Sex, Stroke Severity; NRS nutrition risk screening

ISSN: 1471-2377