AUTHOR=Wei Minping , Huang Qin , Yu Fang , Feng Xianjing , Luo Yunfang , Zhao Tingting , Tu Ruxin , Liao Di , Du Yang , Huang Qing , Gu Wenping , Liu Yunhai , Jiang Yingyu , Gu Hongqiu , Li Zixiao , Xia Jian TITLE=Stroke-associated infection in patients with co-morbid diabetes mellitus is associated with in-hospital mortality JOURNAL=Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience VOLUME=14 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2022.1024496 DOI=10.3389/fnagi.2022.1024496 ISSN=1663-4365 ABSTRACT=Background and objective

The association between infection and acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with diabetes mellitus (DM) remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effect of infection on AIS with DM.

Materials and methods

The data of patients with AIS and DM were extracted from the Chinese Stroke Center Alliance (CSCA) database from August 2015 to July 2019. The association between infections [pneumonia or urinary tract infection (UTI)] and in-hospital mortality was analyzed. Logistic regression models were used to identify the risk factors for in-hospital mortality of patients with infection.

Results

In total, 1,77,923 AIS patients with DM were included in the study. The infection rate during hospitalization was 10.5%, and the mortality rate of infected patients was 3.4%. Stroke-associated infection was an independent risk factor for an early poor functional outcome [odds ratio (OR) = 2.26, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.97–2.34, P < 0.0001] and in-hospital mortality in AIS patients with DM. The in-hospital mortality after infection was associated with age (OR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01–1.03, P < 0.0001), male (OR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.13–1.71, P = 0.0018), reperfusion therapy (OR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.56–2.56, P < 0.0001), and fasting plasma glucose at admission (OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.03–1.08, P < 0.0001). In contrast, antiplatelet drug therapy (OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.50–0.78, P < 0.0001) and hospital stay (OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.94–0.97, P < 0.0001) were independent protecting factors against in-hospital mortality of patients with infection.

Conclusion

Infection is an independent risk factor of in-hospital mortality for patients with AIS and DM, and those patients require strengthening nursing management to prevent infection.