Reduction in retained activity participation is associated with depressive symptoms 3 months after mild stroke: An observational cohort study.

Abstract

To quantify the association of depressive symptoms with retained activity participation 3 months post-stroke, after adjusting for neurological stroke severity and age. A cross-sectional observational study of retained activity participation and depressive symptoms in stroke survivors with ischaemic stroke. One hundred stroke survivors with mild neurological stroke severity. One hundred stroke survivors were recruited from 5 metropolitan hospitals and reviewed at 3 months post-stroke using measures of activity participation, Activity Card Sort-Australia, and depressive symptoms, Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale Structured Interview Guide (MADRS-SIGMA). The median percentage of retained overall activity participation was 97%, (interquartile range 79-100%). Using multiple median regression, 1 point increase in the MADRS-SIGMA was associated with a median decrease of 0.7% (95% CI -1.4 to -0.1, p=0.02) of retained overall activity participation, assuming similar neurological stroke severity and age. The findings of this study establish the association of depressive symptoms with retained activity participation 3 months post-stroke in stroke survivors with mild neurological stroke severity. Clinical rehabilitation recommendations to enhance activity participation need to account for those with even mild depressive symptoms post-stroke.