What is the association between use of a formal screening protocol for dysphagia and the risk of pneumonia?
In a prospective multicenter study, use of a formal screening protocol for dysphagia (eg, water swallow test) for all patients admitted with ischemic stroke was associated with a significantly reduced risk of pneumonia compared with no. The pneumonia rate of sites with a formal dysphagia screen was 2.4% versus 5.4% of those without a screen, a 3% absolute risk reduction.