Depressive symptoms and independence in BADL and IADL

This study examined the relationship between depressive symptoms and time courses in achieving independence in basic activities of daily living (BADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL).

At baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months after stroke, 459 stroke patients were prospectively assessed. We used the Geriatric Depression Scale to determine depressive status. Outcomes were times to achieve independence in BADL (Barthel >95) and independ-ence in at least three IADL. We used the Kaplan-Meier method and time-dependent Cox proportional hazards regression to examine the relationship between depression and stroke recovery.

Depressed patients were 0.3 times less likely than nondepressed patients to achieve BADL of >95 and 0.4 times less likely to be independent in three or more IADL. The cumulative percentages for the nondepressed patients to achieve a BADL of >95 at 1, 3, and 6 months after stroke were 47%, 63%, and 72%, and for the depressed patients, they were 19%, 34%, and 52%, respectively. Similarly, the cumulative percentages for nondepressed patients to achieve complete independence in three or more IADL at 1, 3, and 6 months after stroke were 56%, 72%, and 85%, and for the depressed patients, they were 32%, 47%, and 72%, respectively. Depressed patients had poorer recovery patterns and took longer to achieve the outcomes.

Stroke patients with depressive symptoms progressed slower in achieving independence of BADL and IADL compared to patients without depressive symptoms.