Background:
Post-stroke depression is common, yet little is known about factors associated with antidepressant use in this population
Methods:
Data from the multicenter, prospective Adherence eValuation After Ischemic stroke-Longitudinal (AVAIL) registry was used to identify patients with post-stroke depression and to describe factors associated with antidepressant use. The analysis was performed after 3 months in 1751 ischemic stroke patients who had been admitted to 97 hospitals nationwide; 12 month follow-up was available for 1637 patients. The Get with the Guidelines-Stroke database was used to collect baseline data. Patients were classified as depressed based on a self-report scale (the Patient Health Questionnaire-8; score range 0 to 24, score ≥10 indicating depression). Frequencies were compared with Pearson X
2
and unadjusted ORs were calculated.
Results:
The prevalence of post stroke depression was similar at 3 and 12 months (19% [331/1751] vs 17% [280/1637], respectively, p=0.17). Regardless of depression status, antidepressant use was higher at 12 months (16% [287/1751] vs 20% [334/1637], p=0.002). Antidepressant use was also higher at 12 months in depressed patients (25% [84/331] vs 35% [98/280], p=0.009). The odds of antidepressant use at 3 months was higher in women than men (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.1), Whites vs. Blacks (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.8), in patients with vs. without cognitive deficits (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.1) and in those with more severe disabilities (mRS≥3 vs. mRS<3, OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.3-2.3). Use did not vary with educational level, marital status, living situation, medication insurance coverage, or stroke recurrence. Similar trends were present at 12 months, except with higher use in those with recurrent stroke or TIA (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.4-3.1).
Conclusion:
Three-quarters of depressed stroke patients at 3-months and nearly two-thirds at 12 months were not receiving antidepressants. Regardless of depression status, utilization of antidepressants after 3 and 12 months varied based on gender, race/ethnicity, cognitive status, disability level, and after 12-months, stroke recurrence. The reasons for the apparent underuse of antidepressants in patients with prevalent post-stroke depression require further study.