ACE inhibitors and protection against pneumonia in elderly patients with stroke

Abstract

Pneumonia is the most common cause of death from nosocomial infection in the elderly. The increased incidence of pneumonia and the high mortality are consequences of a number of age-related factors, including coexisting illnesses, therapeutic interventions, and the aging process itself.1 Pneumonia has been estimated to occur in about one third of patients with stroke.2 The most important factor contributing to the risk of pneumonia in patients with stroke is suggested to be dysphagia with aspiration.1 Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been shown to improve silent aspiration3 and prevent pneumonia in elderly patients with stroke.4 However, little is known about whether ACE inhibitors have a beneficial role in reducing the risk of pneumonia as compared to other classes of antihypertensive drugs in elderly patients with stroke. Thus, we investigated whether ACE inhibitors can reduce the risk of pneumonia …