Abstract WP190: Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and Depression in Stroke Survivors

Abstract

Introduction: Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and post-stroke depression (PSD) are risk factors for stroke morbidity and mortality. EDS is commonly seen after stroke, but is not routinely assessed after stroke. EDS may be related to sleep disordered breathing (SDB) including obstructive and central sleep apneas, but can also occur in the absence of SDB. The relationship between EDS and PSD is not well understood. Hypothesis: We sought to assess the association between EDS and PSD. We hypothesized that patients with EDS are more likely to demonstrate symptoms of moderate to severe depression compared to patients without EDS. Methods: We identified ischemic stroke patients from the outpatient clinic registry (06/2014 - 10/2015). We screened for depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; range 0-27, higher worse), and for EDS using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS; range 0-24, higher worse). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate association between EDS and PHQ-9 (moderate to severe depression = PHQ-9 > 9). Regression analysis was also used to evaluate association between EDS and symptoms included in the PHQ-9. Results: Among 200 ischemic stroke patients, 166 completed ESS and PHQ-9 within 90 days of stroke occurrence. Mean age was 61.5 and 54.8% were male. EDS (ESS>9) and moderate to severe depression were each present in 28.9% of patients. Patients with EDS had 3.5 times odds of moderate to severe depression compared to patients without EDS (table 1). Moreover, EDS was associated with higher odds of anhedonia, impaired mood, sleep disturbance, low energy, poor appetite, and impaired concentration (table 1). Conclusion: The presence of EDS is associated with moderate to severe depression in stroke survivors. This is not related solely to SDB symptoms. Patients with fatigue and EDS should be screened for depression. Future studies are also needed to explore the role that SDB plays in this relationship.