Relativity study between serum cortisol level and post-stroke depression in old patients with stroke

Abstract

Objective To explore relativity between serum cortisol and post-stroke depression in old patients with stroke. Methods Serum cortisols of 41 stroke patients were examined two weeks after stroke, and they were all assessed through Hamilton Depression Scale and then happening rates of post-stroke depression observed in both normal cortisol group and enhanced cortisol group were tested through χ2 test. Meanwhile relativity between serum cortisol level and post-stroke depression were analysised. Results Happening rates of post-stroke depression had an evidently difference between both normal cortisol group and enhanced cortisol group(χ2=4.11;P <0.05). Mark of normal cortisol group was 15.29±7.28, enhanced cortisol group was 25.85±10.81, both groups had an evidently difference( P <0.01). Serum cortisols were not obviously relative to depression degree in normal cortisol group( r =0.295;P =0.194) while they were obviously relative in enhanced cortisol group( r =0.702;P =0.001). Conclusion Enhanced cortisol could forecast higher possibility of depression after the old post-stroke, and detecting cortisol could offer theory foundation for prevention and cure of post-stroke depression. Key words: Stroke; Depression; Cortisol; Relativity