Hypersensitive C-reactive protein-albumin ratio is associated with stroke-associated pneumonia and early clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to explore the association between the baseline hypersensitive C-reactive protein-albumin ratio (CAR) and stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) during hospitalization and the short-term prognosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods: We enrolled 766 patients with AIS and collected their admission baseline characteristics, including their National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, CAR, age, atrial fibrillation, dysphagia, sex, stroke severity (A2DS2) score, and other information. The occurrence of SAP within 7 days after stroke, length of hospital stay, and physical condition at discharge were also recorded. The patients’ Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores and mortality 3 months after AIS were further evaluated at follow-up. All patients were divided into four groups based on the quartiles of the admission CAR (Q1 <1.3, Q2 1.3–3.7, Q3 3.7–9.3, Q4 ≥9.3). Results: During hospitalization, 92 (11.9%) patients were diagnosed with SAP. The patients with SAP had a higher CAR than the non-SAP patients (p