Clinical and immuno-inflammatory determinants of post-ischemic stroke infection: a descriptive correlational analysis
Keywords:
Ischemic stroke; Post-stroke infection; Systemic immune-inflammation index; Platelet-lymphocyte ratioAbstract
Introduction: Post-ischemic stroke infection is a frequent complication that increases hospital stay, worsens functional recovery, and raises mortality. Clinical, comorbid, and immuno-inflammatory factors are associated with its occurrence.
Objective: To identify the relationship between clinical and immuno-inflammatory variables and the occurrence of post-ischemic stroke infection.
Methods: A descriptive-correlational study nested in a prospective cohort of 976 patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke was conducted as part of a preliminary exploratory analysis for future multivariate analyses. Quantitative variables were summarized using descriptive statistics, and correlations were assessed with Spearman's coefficient. Both power and post hoc effect size were determined.
Results: Of the total 976 patients, 25.0% presented post-ischemic stroke infection. Atherothrombotic etiology prevailed at 44.3%. A very strong negative correlation was identified between global lymphocyte count and the platelet/lymphocyte ratio, as well as with the systemic immune-inflammation index. Patients who developed infection had greater neurological severity, higher systemic immune-inflammation index values, and heart failure was more frequent.
Conclusions: The identified associations between clinical and immuno-inflammatory variables and post-stroke infection support risk stratification and future multivariate models for prevention.
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