P1‐280: COGNITIVE AND BEHAVIORAL CHANGES AFTER FIRST STROKE

Abstract

Stroke is a risk factor for dementia. Among 30% of patients who had a stroke develop post stroke dementia within the first year. Post- stroke cognitive impairment prevalence is around 20 to 80% according to different series. After stroke, mood and behavioral changes are also frequent. Symptoms of depression occur in up to one third of patients beginning within the first three months after stroke. The purpose of this study was to evaluate cognitive, mood and behavioral changes after first stroke. First stroke patients were included according to inclusion/ exclusion criteria during a period of 1 year. All were evaluated with the screening test Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) test and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI)–Questionnaire within the first three months after stroke. Thirty one patients were recruited. Mean age was 60.16±16.28 years, mean number of years of education was 10±3.49 years and 20 (64.5%) were male. MoCA score ≤25 was found in 13(41.9%) subjects. Three (9.6%) patients reported depression symptoms by BDI. Behavioral symptoms were reported by NPI in 24(77.4%) patients: agitation/aggression 11(45.8%), depression/dysphoria 11(45.8%), nighttime behaviors 11 (45.8%), anxiety 10(41.6%), irritability/lability 9(37.5%). Our patients presented similar prevalence of post stroke cognitive impairment as the described in the literature. Despite the small number of the sample, a high prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms reported by family members was observed. Particularly, depression presented a low score in the BDI, with a high prevalence in NPI. We will continue extending the sample in order to corroborate these or other results as well as to improve the quality of life in this frequent entity.