Abstract 22: Risk and Predictors of Depression Following Acute Ischemic Stroke in the Elderly: Comparison With Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Introduction: Post-stroke depression (PSD) occurs commonly following stroke and is associated with worse outcomes and higher mortality. Previous research has not identified consistent predictors of PSD, and debate remains about whether PSD differs from other types of depression, including depression following other ischemic vascular events. Objective: We sought to comprehensively evaluate predictors of PSD in the US population and compare the hazard of developing PSD to post-myocardial infarction (MI) depression. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 100% de-identified inpatient, outpatient, and subacute nursing Medicare data from 2016-2017 for US patients aged ≥65 years from July 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017. We calculated Kaplan-Meier unadjusted cumulative risk of depression up to 1.5 years following index admission. We performed Cox regression to report the hazard ratio for diagnosis of depression up to 1.5 years post-stroke vs. MI, as well as independent predictors of PSD, and controlled for patient demographics, comorbidities, length of stay and acute stroke interventions. Results: In fully adjusted models, stroke patients (n=174,901) were approximately 50% more likely than MI patients (n=193,418) to develop depression during the 1.5-year follow-up period (Kaplan-Meier cumulative risk 0.1596 ± 0.001 in stroke patients versus 0.0973 ± 0.000778 in MI patients, log-rank p<0.0001). History of anxiety was the strongest predictor of PSD, while discharge home was most protective. Female patients, White patients, and patients younger than 75 years were more likely to be diagnosed with depression post-stroke. Conclusions: Despite the similarities between MI and stroke, patients who suffer from stroke were significantly more likely to develop depression. There were several predictors of post-stroke depression, most significantly history of anxiety. Our findings lend credibility to a stroke-specific process causing depression and highlight the need for consistent depression screening in all stroke patients.