Depression After Stroke Links With Mortality

According to a new study, people with depression who suffer a stroke are at four times higher risk of death from stroke than those who had neither stroke nor depression, reports Medical Xpress.

The new study analyzed people with different possibilities of either suffering a stroke, depression or both. The risk of death from any other basis among the people with stroke and depression was three times higher and risk of dying from stroke was four times higher when compared with people without depression or stroke, says the report.

"Up to one in three people who have a stroke develop depression," said study author Amytis Towfighi, MD, with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California and Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Los Angeles, and a member of the American Academy of Neurology, reports Medical Xpress. "This is something family members can help watch for that could potentially save their loved one."

The study included 10,550 people aged from 25 to 74 years old with a mean age of 21 years old with random symptoms of stroke or depression. Out of the total number of people, 8,138 had no sign of stroke or depression, 2,291 had stroke but were not depressed, 73 developed depression but did not have stroke and 48 had both stroke and depression.

The study analyzed the causes of these individuals' deaths and compared with the occurrence of any sign of depression or stroke. Results show a variance with death causes affecting the individuals considering the various factors such as age, race, gender, qualification, economy and marital status. Individuals who had developed stroke and depression were three times more likely to die of any other cause but stroke compared to those who had no signs of either stroke or depression. On the other hand individuals were four times more likely to die from stroke who were depressed and had a stroke.

"Our research highlights the importance of screening for and treating depression in people who have experienced a stroke," Towfighi said. "Given how common depression is after stroke, and the potential consequences of having depression, looking for signs and symptoms and addressing them may be key."