title: Cognitive functions and depression as predictors of poor outcome 15 months after stroke.
abstract: The prognostic predictors of poor outcome, as defined by death between 3 and 15 months and dependent living at 15 months, were examined in the Helsinki Stroke Aging Memory (SAM) study cohort. Death between 3 and 15 months was registered from the whole study group of 486 consecutive patients aged 55-85 years. Altogether 286 of the 486 patients went through a detailed follow-up examination both 3 and 15 months after stroke, including structured measures of emotion (Beck's Depression Inventory, BDI), cognition (Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE), dementia assessment according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III), and handicap (Rankin scale, RS). The only independent correlate of death between 3 and 15 months was dependent living at 3 months (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.2-5.8), which also had the most powerful association with dependent living at 15 months (OR 5.8, 95% CI 2.6-13.1). Also, both worsening in cognition (change in MMSE, OR for each point of worsening 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.3) and worsening of depression (change in BDI, OR for each point of worsening 1.1, 95% CI 1.02-1.12), between 3 and 15 months follow-up, had an independent effect on dependent living 15 months after ischemic stroke. This challenges the care and rehabilitation of these items even at the stable period after stroke.
authors.affiliation: Stroke Unit, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. timo.Erkinjuntti@Hus.fi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pohjasvaara
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vataja
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leppävuori
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaste
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Erkinjuntti
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D020521:Stroke / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors