Abstract: Objective  To investigate the clinical characteristics of acute cerebral infarction(ACI) complicated by dysphagia in elderly patients and the effect of dysphagia on in-hospital outcome in Xi′an area. 
Methods  By means of stroke registration study in Xi′an area, a total of 1 116 elderly patients with ACI admitted to four first-class tertiary hospitals in Xi′an were included. According to the score of water swallowing test within 24 h after admission, they were divided into good swallowing group(grade 1-2) (n=1 004)and dysphagia group(grade 3-5) (n=112). The baseline clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared. Multivariate Logistic regression model was used to analyze the impact of dysphagia on in-hospital outcomes［stroke-associated pneumonia(SAP), parenteral nutrition and poor prognosis］ of elderly patients with ACI complicated by dysphagia. 
Results  Compared with good swallowing group, patients in the dysphagia group were older, and had a higher proportion of atrial fibrillation, national institute of health stroke scale score on admission, and inability to walk within 48h after admission, as well as a higher admission heart rate, fasting blood glucose, blood urea nitrogen, and white blood cell levels(P＜0.05). The rate of in-hospital SAP, parenteral nutrition and poor prognosis of dysphagia group were all higher than those of good swallowing group(26.8% vs. 4.0%, 11.6% vs. 1.9%, 46.4% vs. 17.8%, P＜0.001). After adjusting for related confusions, multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of in-hospital SAP(OR=3.835, 95%CI: 2.005-7.335, P＜0.001) and probability of parenteral nutrition(OR=4.909, 95%CI: 1.991-12.102, P＜0.001) in elderly ACI patients with dysphagia were significantly increased. 
Conclusion  The risk of in-hospital SAP and probability of parenteral nutrition of elderly ACI patients with dysphagia were significantly increased in Xi'an area.Therefore, it is necessary to arouse the attention and early response of clinicians. 

Key words: brain infarction, dysphagia, elderly