Abstract
Recent research has shown that the prevalence of stroke incidents and the number of survivors in developing countries surpass those from developed countries. This study aimed to enumerate the prevalence of post-stroke psychiatric and cognitive symptoms among stroke survivors from West and South Asia and Africa through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Data from each country was systematically acquired from five major databases (PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed/Medline, and Google Scholar (for any missing articles and grey literature)). Meta-analytic techniques were then used to estimate the prevalence of various post-stoke psychiatric and cognitive symptoms. A total of 36 articles were accrued from 11 countries, of which 25 were evaluated as part of the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of post-stroke depression as per the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire, Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN), Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale ranged from 28.00 to 50.24%. Pooled prevalence of post-stroke anxiety based on the HADS and SCAN was 44.19% and 10.96%, respectively. The pooled prevalence of post-stroke cognitive impairment as per the Mini-Mental Status Examination was 16.76%. This present review has suggested that both psychiatric and cognitive symptoms are common among stroke survivors. Concerted efforts are needed to institute robust studies using culturally sensitive measures to contemplate mechanisms that address the unmet needs of this vulnerable population.
Highlights
In the part of the world where approximately 80% of the global population resides—sometimes labeled as the ‘Global South’, ‘emerging economies’, ‘low- and middleincome countries’ or ‘developing’ or ‘non-Western countries’—there has been a surge of health problems resonating with the metaphor of a ‘double-edged sword’
The pooled prevalence of Post-Stroke Depression (PSD) in the total sample of 306 was 35.25% based on the random-effects model (I2 = 92.19%, Q = 12.81, p < 0.001)
The pooled prevalence of PSD in the total sample of 237 was 50.24% based on the random-effects model (I2 = 86.14%, Q = 14.43, p < 0.001)
Summary
In the part of the world where approximately 80% of the global population resides—sometimes labeled as the ‘Global South’, ‘emerging economies’, ‘low- and middleincome countries’ or ‘developing’ or ‘non-Western countries’—there has been a surge of health problems resonating with the metaphor of a ‘double-edged sword’. While environment-related and infectious diseases continue to pose challenges, these developing countries are concurrently witnessing a spike in non-communicable diseases including neurological events that lead to the intransigent and debilitating sequelae of focal (or global) disturbance in cerebral function In this regard, stroke has been widely established to compromise the integrity of emotional and cognitive functioning, often going on to disrupt an individual’s premorbid self-directedness, quality of life, and meaningful existence. A rise in awareness campaigns, resource mobilization and the subsequent availability of emergency services, critical care, and rehabilitation services have contributed to the changing trends in these countries [5] Such accessibility has been shown to help pre-empt disability and dependency and the occurrence of death. For example, those in South Asia, have been shown to have a high risk of stroke and account for almost 40% of the adverse stroke sequelae [7]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
