Risk factors of cognitive function impairment and depression status in patients with first-episode acute ischemic stroke

  Objective  To explore the related risk factors of cognitive impairment and depression in patients with first-episode acute ischemic stroke.

  Methods  A total of 206 patients with acute ischemic stroke were divided into post-stroke cognitive impairment group (146 cases) and non-post-stroke cognitive impairment group (60 cases) by Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MCAS). The Hamilton Depression Scale was used to assign these patients into post-stroke depression group(52 cases) and non-post-stroke depression group(154 cases). The demographic characteristics and clinical indicators of the patients were collected for statistical analysis.

  Results  The age, ratio of patients complicating with hypertension, homocysteine(Hcy) and C reactive protein(CRP) levels in post-stroke cognitive impairment group were significantly higher, male ratio, education level, Barthel index, hemoglobin(Hb), fasting blood glucose (GLU) and creatinine(Cre) levels were significantly lower than those in the non post-stroke cognitive impairment group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The male proportion and CRP level in the post-stroke depression group were significantly lower than those in the non-post-stroke depression group (P < 0.05). The post-stroke depression group had significantly higher complicating with hypertension, coronary heart disease, anterior lesion ratio, GLU, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Cre, Hcy levels than the non-post-stroke depression group (P < 0.05or P < 0.01). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age, education level, Hb and Hcy were independent influencing factors of cognitive dysfunction patients with first-episode acute ischemic stroke, while gender and Hcy were independent influencing factors of depression patients with first-episode acute ischemic stroke.

  Conclusion  Hcy level is the common influencing factor of first-episode acute ischemic stroke patients with cognitive dysfunction and depression. Age, education level and Hb are independent influencing factors of cognitive dysfunction, and gender is an independent influencing factor of depression. Therefore, screening and intervention should be carried out at the early stage of onset.