Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41741927›Full record

SynthesisNeurocritical care2026

Prognostic Factors Associated with Pneumonia in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Talia Mia Bitonti, Kevin M Durr, Bram Rochwerg, Shannon Fernando, Shane English, Hilary Meggison, Dalibor Kubelik, David Neilipovitz, Scott Millington, Alexis F Turgeon and 5 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Neurocritical care, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Talia Mia BitontiDepartment of Critical Care, The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. taliabitonti@outlook.com.ORCID 0009-0002-6392-3630
Kevin M DurrDepartment of Critical Care, The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Bram RochwergDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Shannon FernandoDepartment of Critical Care, Lakeridge Health, Oshawa, ON, Canada.
Shane EnglishDepartment of Critical Care, The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Hilary MeggisonDepartment of Critical Care, The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Dalibor KubelikDepartment of Critical Care, The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
David NeilipovitzDepartment of Critical Care, The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Scott MillingtonDepartment of Critical Care, The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Alexis F TurgeonDivision of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.
Francois LauzierDivision of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.
Naisan GarrawayDepartment of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Donald E GriesdaleDepartment of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Paul EngelsDepartments of Surgery and Critical Care, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Alexandre TranDepartment of Critical Care, The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, often complicated by hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) or ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). These infections may contribute to prolonged hospitalizations and increased morbidity. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify predicting factors associated with the development of pneumonia (HAP or VAP) in patients hospitalized following acute TBI.

methodsWe conducted a comprehensive search of Medline and Embase from inception to 29 September 2025. We included studies that investigated prognostic factors for HAP or VAP in adult patients admitted to hospital with TBI and adjusted for known cofounders. We pooled adjusted odds ratios (aORs) using a random-effects model. We assessed risk of bias using the QUIPS tool and certainty of findings using GRADE methodology.

resultsWe included 24 studies involving 34,841 patients. Prognostic factors with a moderate or high association of developing HAP or VAP include male sex (aOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.16-2.01; high certainty), lower Glasgow Coma Scale at any time (aOR 6.36, 95% CI 1.91-21.14; moderate certainty), chest injury severity (aOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.02-2.40; moderate certainty), barbiturate use (aOR 1.83, 95% CI 0.88-3.83; moderate certainty), and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation (aOR 6.22, 95% CI 4.05-9.55; moderate certainty). We also found that early antibiotic use (aOR 0.40, 95% CI 0.23-0.72; moderate certainty) is probably associated with a reduced incidence of pneumonia.

conclusionsPneumonia in patients with TBI is influenced by patient characteristics, injury severity, and treatment-related factors. Recognizing these risk factors may guide early interventions to reduce pneumonia and improve patient outcomes.

Indexed as

Brain Injuries, TraumaticHealthcare-Associated PneumoniaPneumonia, Ventilator-AssociatedHumansPrognosisRisk FactorsHospital acquired pneumoniaPneumoniaPrognostic factorsTraumatic brain injuryVentilator-associated pneumonia

Identifiers

PMID41741927

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.