Risk, Determinants, and Pharmacologic Treatment of Depression Following Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background and Purpose: We assessed risk and determinants of new-onset depression in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients of all ages and no known history of depression. Additionally, we assessed patterns of post-stroke depression (PSD) treatment with pharmacotherapy. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of de-identified Marketscan Commercial Claims and Encounters and Medicare Supplemental and Coordination of Benefits Datasets for adults age ≥18 years admitted with AIS from July 1, 2016-July 1, 2017. We created Kaplan-Meier curves of cumulative risk of PSD up to 1.5 years following index AIS admission. We performed Cox regression to report hazard ratios for determinants of PSD up to 1.5 years following AIS. We summarized proportions treated with pharmacotherapy and identified the most commonly prescribed medications. Results: Of 8089 AIS patients, 1059 were diagnosed with PSD. At 1 year, cumulative risk of PSD was 13.4% (standard error .4) and 15.3% (standard error .5) at 1.5 years. History of anxiety was most strongly associated with PSD and discharge home least. Among those with PSD, 68.8% were prescribed an antidepressant and 8.4% an antipsychotic. The most commonly prescribed antidepressant was sertraline (28.5%). Conclusions: Among AIS patients of all ages, there is a persistently elevated cumulative risk of new diagnosis of PSD in the 1.5 years following AIS. Of the >2/3 treated with an antidepressant, sertraline was most commonly prescribed. Screening and treatment strategies for PSD require further study.