Sex difference in prevalence of depression after stroke

Objective: This study investigated the sex difference in prevalence of depression at 90 days after first-ever stroke.

Methods: Patients with first-ever stroke (n = 786) were identified from the population-based Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi project (2011–2016). Poststroke depressive symptoms were assessed by the 8-itemPatient Health Questionnaire, and prestroke depression status (history and medication use) was self-reported. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between sex and depression after stroke, and effect modification by prestroke depression status, accounting for missing data.

Results: Women were more likely to have a history of and be on medication for depression at the time of stroke than men (p < 0.001). Prevalence of depression at 90 days was 28.2% for men (95% confidence interval [CI], 23.7%–32.8%) and 32.7% for women (95% CI, 27.8%–37.5%). The age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) of depression after stroke comparing women with men was 1.3...