Ultra-early Chest CT for SAP Prediction

Ultra-early Chest CT Improves Risk Prediction of Stroke-associated Pneumonia: Model Development and External Validation in a Multicentre Retrospective Study

Stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) is a common and serious complication after acute ischaemic stroke (AIS). Existing scores rely mainly on clinical variables, and the added prognostic value of inflammatory markers and early chest CT findings remains uncertain. We developed and externally validated an early multimodal model combining clinical severity, inflammation, and chest CT abnormalities, and explored risk-stratified associations between prophylactic antibiotics and SAP.

Inclusion criteria:

1. patients aged ≥18 years;
2. Admitted to a participating stroke centre with neuroimaging-confirmed acute ischaemic stroke ;
3. Had chest CT performed within 24 hours of stroke onset.

Exclusion criteria:

1. Pneumonia;
2. Chest CT images unavailable or incomplete for assessment;
3. Insufficient clinical documentation to ascertain stroke-associated pneumonia occurrence within 7 days after stroke onset