Natalie Valle

Depression Is Associated with a Higher Risk of Death among Stroke Survivors

BACKGROUND Poststroke depression is common, affecting approximately 1 in 3 stroke survivors. We aimed to evaluate the association between depression and mortality in adults with and without prior stroke. METHODS Using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study (1982-1992), we investigated the association between depression and all-cause mortality among adults aged 25-74 years with and without prior stroke, and stroke mortality among stroke survivors, adjusting for covariates. RESULTS Among 9919 individuals, 121 (1.2%) reported prior stroke. The adjusted depression prevalence was 37.1% among stroke survivors and 17.3% among individuals without stroke. In persons aged 25-64 years, neither stroke nor depression was associated with all-cause mortality. The combination of depression and stroke was not associated with all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 2.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] .67-12.04). Among persons aged 65-74 years, depression alone (adjusted HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.04-1.47), stroke alone (adjusted HR 1.64, 95% CI 1.17-2.32), and the combination of depression and stroke (adjusted HR 2.28, 95% CI 1.79-2.90) were associated with all-cause mortality, consistent with an additive relationship. Among all ages, the combination of depression and stroke was associated with all-cause mortality (adjusted HR 1.93, 95% CI 1.28-2.92). Higher stroke mortality was only observed in those aged 65-74 years (adjusted HR 2.43, 95% CI 1.05-5.60). Compared with stroke survivors without depression, those with depression were ~35 times more likely to die from a stroke (adjusted HR 35.33, 95% CI 7.79-160.32). CONCLUSIONS The combination of prior stroke and depression is associated with higher all-cause mortality than either condition alone. The presence of depression after stroke increases stroke mortality 35-fold, highlighting the importance of identifying and treating depression among stroke survivors.

A Pilot Trial of a Lifestyle Intervention for Stroke Survivors: Design of Healthy Eating and Lifestyle after Stroke (HEALS)

BACKGROUND Stroke survivors have high rates of subsequent cardiovascular and recurrent cerebrovascular events, and mortality. While healthy lifestyle practices - including a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, limited alcohol intake, and regular physical activity - can mitigate these outcomes, few stroke survivors adhere to them. Minorities from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities who obtain care in safety-net health systems experience the most barriers to implementing healthy lifestyle changes after stroke. PURPOSE To report the design of Healthy Eating and Lifestyle After Stroke (HEALS), a randomized controlled trial (RCT) was designed to test the feasibility of using a manualized, lifestyle management intervention in a safety-net setting to improve lifestyle practices among ethnically diverse individuals with stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). METHODS Design: Pilot RCT. PARTICIPANTS Inclusion criteria: 1) Adults (≥40 years) with ischemic stroke or TIA (≥ 90 days prior); 2) English- or Spanish-speaking. SETTING Outpatient clinic, safety-net setting. INTERVENTION Weekly two-hour small group sessions led by an occupational therapist for six weeks. The sessions focused on implementing nutrition, physical activity, and self-management strategies tailored to each participants goals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Body mass index, diet, and physical activity. CONCLUSIONS Recruitment for this study is complete. If the HEALS intervention study is feasible and effective, it will serve as a platform for a large-scale RCT that will investigate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of life management interventions for racially and ethnically diverse, low-income individuals with a history of stroke or TIA who seek healthcare in the safety-net system.

Tale of 2 Health-care Systems: Disparities in Demographic and Clinical Characteristics between 2 Ischemic Stroke Populations in Los Angeles County

BACKGROUND Individuals who present to the emergency departments of safety-net systems often have poorly controlled risk factors due to lack of primary care. Little is known about potential differences in presenting characteristics, discharge medications, and discharge destinations of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) who present to safety-net settings versus university medical centers (UMCs). METHODS Demographic characteristics, medical history, premorbid medication use, stroke severity, discharge medications, and discharge destination were assessed among consecutive admissions for AIS over a 2-year period at a UMC (n = 385) versus 2 university-affiliated safety-net hospitals (SNHs) (n = 346) in Los Angeles County. RESULTS Compared with patients presenting to the UMC, individuals admitted to the SNHs were younger, more frequently male, nonwhite, current smokers, hypertensive, and diabetic; they were less likely to take antithrombotics and statins before admission, and had worse serum lipid and glycemic markers (all P < .05). Patients admitted to the UMC trended toward more cardioembolic strokes and had higher stroke severity scores (P < .0001). At discharge, patients admitted to the SNHs were more likely to receive antihypertensive medications than do patients admitted to the UMC (P < .001), but there were no differences in prescription of antiplatelet medications or statins. CONCLUSIONS Individuals with AIS admitted to SNHs in Los Angeles County are younger and have poorer vascular risk factor control than their counterparts at a UMC. Discharge treatment does not vary considerably between systems. Early and more vigorous efforts at primary vascular risk reduction among patients seen at SNHs may be warranted to reduce disparities.