Early infection and prognosis after acute stroke: the Copenhagen Stroke Study

Infection is a frequent complication in the early course of acute stroke and may adversely affect stroke outcome. In the present study, we investigate early infection developing in patients within 3 days of admission to the hospital and its independent relation to recovery and stroke outcome. In addition, we identify predictors for early infections, infection subtypes, and their relation to initial stroke severity.

In the community-based Copenhagen Stroke Study, 1,156 unselected patients were examined for early infection. Stroke severity was assessed with the Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS) on admission and at discharge. Multiple logistic and linear regression analyses were used to determine independent relations to early infection. Relevant stroke risk factors, admission stroke severity, and body temperature were included in the analysis.

Of the subjects studied, 19.4% developed early infection. In women, 68% of the early infections were urinary tract infections, and in men, 49% of the early infections were pneumonias. Independent predictors of early infection were advanced age (OR per 10 years, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.02-1.64), female gender (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.3-3.0), and decreased SSS score on admission (OR per 10 points, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.62-0.78). The presence of early infection prolonged hospital stay by a mean of 9.3 days (P < .0001) but not death during hospital stay (P = .78), stroke severity at discharge (P = .32), or rate of discharge to nursing home (P = .17).

Advanced age, female gender, and increased stroke severity independently predict development of early infection. The present study indicates that early infection does not influence outcome in acute stroke patients per se, but it delays patient discharge from the hospital.