Depressive Symptoms as a Risk Factor for Stroke

The association of depressive symptoms and stroke is not limited to the poststroke period.

The link between vascular disease and depressive symptoms in the form of poststroke depression is well established. However, the potential for depressive symptoms to be a risk factor for stroke has been studied less. In this analysis, researchers looked at the relationship between depressive symptoms in the 12 months before a stroke and stroke severity and functional outcome 1 month poststroke. There were 26,877 participants (mean age, 62 years; 40% women) from INTERSTROKE, an international case–control study conducted in 32 countries to examine stroke risk factors, who completed a validated questionnaire about depressive symptoms.

As expected, index stroke cases had a higher rate of conventional vascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes…

Reviewing Author

Seemant Chaturvedi, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBayer Pharmaceuticals; Novartis

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Editorial BoardsNeurology; Stroke

Seemant Chaturvedi, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBayer Pharmaceuticals; Novartis

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Editorial BoardsNeurology; Stroke

Depressive Symptoms as a Risk Factor for Stroke

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Reviewing Author