The preventive effect of captopril on aspiration pneumonia in stroke patients: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

In patients with stroke, alongside diminished level of consciousness, impaired swallowing and aspiration pneumonia are also common. In some studies, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) have caused improved swallowing and reduced incidence of aspiration pneumonia in some patients. This study has examined the effects of captopril on reducing the extent of aspiration pneumonia in stroke patients.

A total of 68 patients with brain stroke and diminished level of consciousness hospitalized in Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital, Babol were chosen and randomly assigned into captopril and placebo groups. In the captopril group, in case of blood pressure above 100/70 mmHg, captopril was prescribed with a dose of 6.25 mg three times per day. In the placebo group, vitamin C was given, and in both groups in the case of hypertension, an antihypertensive drug other than ACEI was used. Age, gender, blood pressure, potassium level, and primary underlying diseases were recorded. The two groups were compared with each other daily for 14 days in terms of severity of incidence of pneumonia as well as hemodynamic changes in potassium.

A total of 68 patients with brain stroke were included in the study in two equal 34-subject groups. The two groups had no difference in terms of age, gender, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, initial potassium level, and underlying diseases. In the captopril group, 1 (2.9%) and in the placebo group 6 (17.6%) suffered pneumonia (P < 0.046). The two groups had no significant difference in terms of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and serum potassium.

The results of this study indicated that captopril is effective in reducing the extent of incidence of aspiration pneumonia in brain stroke patients.