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Published on: April 23, 2021
Cerebral microbleeds and depression in lacunar stroke
1Department of Psychiatry, Shatin Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China. tangwk@cuhk.edu.hk
Background And Purpose:
Cerebral microbleeds (CMB) are common in stroke survivors and the community-dwelling elderly. The clinical significance of CMB in the development of depression after a stroke is unknown. This study examined the association between poststroke depression (PSD) and CMB.
Methods:
A cohort of 235 patients with acute lacunar stroke admitted to the stroke unit of a university-affiliated regional hospital in Hong Kong was recruited. Three months after the onset of the index stroke, a research assistant administered the locally validated 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale. PSD was defined as a Genetic Depression Scale score of ≥7. The presence and location of CMB were evaluated with MRI.
Results:
In comparison with the non-PSD group, PSD patients were more likely to have lobar CMB (33.3% versus 19.9%; P=0.022). Lobar CMB remained an independent predictor of PSD in the multivariate analysis, with an odds ratio of 2.08 (P=0.032).
Conclusions:
The results suggest that lobar CMB may play a role in the development of PSD. The importance of CMB in the pathogenesis of depression in stroke survivors and the general elderly population warrants further investigation.
Insights
Lobar cerebral microbleeds (CMB) are linked to increased risk of poststroke depression (PSD). This finding suggests CMB may contribute to depression in stroke survivors and the elderly.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Geriatrics
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Cerebral microbleeds (CMB) are prevalent in stroke survivors and the elderly.
- The role of CMB in poststroke depression (PSD) development is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between CMB and PSD in acute lacunar stroke patients.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 235 acute lacunar stroke patients was studied.
- Poststroke depression (PSD) was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) at 3 months.
- Cerebral microbleeds (CMB) were detected and located using MRI.
Main Results:
- Patients with PSD were more likely to have lobar CMB compared to those without PSD (33.3% vs. 19.9%, P=0.022).
- Lobar CMB independently predicted PSD, with an odds ratio of 2.08 (P=0.032) in multivariate analysis.
Conclusions:
- Lobar CMB may contribute to the development of poststroke depression (PSD).
- Further research is needed to clarify the role of CMB in depression pathogenesis among stroke survivors and the elderly.
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