Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms May Increase the Risk of Aspiration Pneumonia in Post-Stroke Patients with Dysphagia.

This study aimed to evaluate whether genetic polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of infection, specifically post-stroke aspiration pneumonia. Blood samples were obtained from a total of 206 post-stroke participants (males, n = 136; mean age, 63.8 years). Genotyping was performed for catechol-O-methyltransferase ( rs4680, rs165599 ), dopamine receptors (DRD1; rs4532 , DRD2; rs1800497 , DRD3; rs6280 ), brain-derived neurotrophic factor ( rs6265 ), apolipoprotein E ( rs429358, rs7412 ), and the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene ( rs4251961 ). The subjects were stratified into two groups, aged < 65 (young) and ≥ 65 (elderly). Functional parameters and swallowing outcomes were measured at enrollment and at 3 months post-onset. The primary outcome was the incidence of aspiration pneumonia. Analysis of the association between genetic polymorphisms and aspiration pneumonia history showed that a minor C rs429358 allele was associated with the occurrence of aspiration pneumonia in the young group, both in the additive and the dominant models (odds ratio: 4.53; 95% CI: 1.60-12.84, p = 0.004). In the multivariable analysis, the minor C rs429358 allele increased the risk of post-stroke aspiration pneumonia in young stroke patients by 5.35 (95% CI: 1.64-20.88). In contrast, no such association was observed in the elderly group. Apolipoprotein E polymorphism may affect the risk of post-stroke aspiration pneumonia.