The association between delays in screening for and assessing dysphagia after acute stroke, and the risk of stroke-associated pneumonia

Background

There is no robust evidence that screening patients with acute stroke for dysphagia reduces the risk of stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP), or of how quickly it should be done after admission. We aimed to identify if delays in bedside dysphagia screening and comprehensive dysphagia assessments by a speech and language therapist (SALT) were associated with patients9 risk of SAP.

Methods

Nationwide, registry-based,...