The pneumonia score: A simple grading scale for prediction of pneumonia after acute stroke

Abstract

Medical complications are an important clinical problem after acute stroke and present potential barriers to optimal recovery. Pneumonia has been estimated to occur in one third of all stroke victims and is the most common respiratory complication.1 Moreover, a recent study showed that pneumonia increases the risk of 30-day mortality.2 In patients with acute stroke, most stroke deaths after the first week and before 30 days were reported to be due to complications of immobility (ie, pneumonia or pulmonary embolism).