Functional impairment and post-stroke depression: a 6-month longitudinal study

Abstract

Background:In recent decades, considerable advances have been made in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (IS) and its prevention. However, even after treatment, approximately two-thirds of patients with IS have some degree of disability that requires rehabilitation, along with an increased possibility of developing psychiatric disorders, particularly depression.Objective: To determine the predictors of post-stroke depression in a 6-month period in patients with IS.Method: Ninety-seven patients with IS without previous depression were included in the study. The study protocol was applied during hospitalization and at 30, 90, and 180 days after hospital discharge. A binary logistic regression was then used. Age, sex, marital status, occupation, education, thrombolysis, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, modified Rankin scale (mRS) score, Barthel index, and Mini-Mental State Examination score were included as independent variables. Results:Of the 97 patients, 24% of patients developed post-stroke depression. In the longitudinal follow-up, an mRS score of >0 was the lone significant predictor of depression development (odds ratio = 5.38; 95% confidence interval: 1.25-23.12; p < 0.05).