ObjectiveTo observe the relationship between ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and changes in bronchial mucosa and sputum in critically ill patients. A prediction model for SEH score was developed according to the abnormal degrees of airway sputum , mucosal edema and mucosal hyperemia , as well as to analyze the diagnostic value of the SEH scores for VAP during bronchoscopy. MethodsA collection of general data and initial bronchoscopy results was conducted for patients admitted to the department of intensive care unit at West China Hospital from March 1, 2024, to July 1, 2024. Patients were divided into infection group (n=138) and non-infection group (n=227) according to diagnostic criteria for VAP based on the date of their first bronchoscopy. T-tests were used to compare baseline data between groups, while analysis of variance was employed to assess differences in airway mucosal and sputum lesions. A binary logistic regression model was constructed using the SEH scores for predicting VAP risk, with receiver operating characteristic curve area under the curve (AUC) utilized to evaluate model accuracy. ResultsA total of 365 patients were included in this study, among which 138 cases (37.8%) were diagnosed with VAP. The AUC for using SEH scores in diagnosing VAP was found to be 0.81 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.76-0.85], with an optimal cutoff value set at 6.5. The sensitivity and specificity of SEH scores for diagnosing VAP were determined as 79.7% (95% CI: 72.2%-85.6%) and 73.1% (95% CI:67.0%-78.5%). Patients with SEH scores over 6.5 exhibited a significantly higher rate of VAP infection (64.3% vs.14.4%, P<0.0001), elevated white blood cell count levels (WBC) [(13.3±7.5 vs.1.8±6.2), P=0.04], as well as increased hospital mortality rates (39.8 % vs.24.2 %, P=0.002). ConclusionsThe SEH scores has a certain efficacy in the diagnosis of VAP in patients with mechanical ventilation. Compared with the traditional VAP diagnostic criteria, SEH scores is easier to obtain in clinical practice, and has certain clinical application value.