Association of Ishii test scores with pneumonia in stable schizophrenic subjects

AIM: We investigated the relationship between the sarcopenia-indicating Ishii test scores and pneumonia risk in stable schizophrenia patients. METHODS: This prospective investigation involves schizophrenic inpatients from two mental health centers in western China. Patient baseline information was gathered over 1 month from September 1 to 30 in 2020. All pneumonia-related patient information, including diagnosis and treatment, was acquired over 1 year between October 2020 and October 2021. Patients with schizophrenia were screened for sarcopenia utilizing a threshold value established by Ishii et al. Using regression analysis, the link between Ishii test scores and pneumonia risk in schizophrenia patients was investigated. RESULT: This study recruited 232 males and 107 females with schizophrenia over the age of 50 and older. During a 1-year follow-up period, four patients (3 males and 1 female) acquired pneumonia within 1 week of relapse in schizophrenia; therefore, these patients were excluded from the study. Finally, data were collected for 335 patients. The pneumonia incidences were 29.3% in males and 14.2% in females. Our analysis confirmed that compared to the male schizophrenia patients with Ishii test scores < 105 (non-sarcopenia), those with Ishii test scores ≥ 105 (sarcopenia) exhibited an elevated pneumonia risk (OR = 2.739, 95%CI: 1.406–5.333). Following confounders adjustment, Ishii test scores ≥ 105 remained a risk factor for pneumonia (OR = 2.064, 95%CI: 1.029–4.143). Among females with schizophrenia, the Ishii test scores were not associated with pneumonia risk. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our results demonstrated that the Ishii test scores ≥ 105 were strongly associated with pneumonia risk in stable schizophrenic male patients.