Morbidity and costs associated with depressive syndrome in stroke sufferers in a population

Abstract Objective To measure morbidity and the associated costs of depressive disorders (DD) in subjects who have had a stroke in a population treated by primary care settings under usual clinical practice conditions. Method Cross-sectional, retrospective studies. Adult stroke patients with DD were included in the study, and treated by 5 primary care settings (PCS) during 2006. A comparative group was formed with the rest of non-DD patients. The main measurements taken were: age, sex, history/co-morbidity, Charlson index, clinical parameters, and corresponding outpatient costs; drugs, diagnostic tests, referrals, and visits. Multiple logistic regression analysis and ANCOVA were used to correct the models. Results A total of 2566 stroke patients were assessed. Seventeen point seven percent (95% CI, 16.2–19.2) were identified as having DD; average age, 69.5 years (standard deviation, 12.6); 57.2% of those were female. In the correction of the model, females (OR, 2.1), obesity (OR, 1.1), and neuropathy (OR, 2.2), were significantly associated with DD in stroke patients. The adjusted total costs of DD were higher in most components, e2037.55 versus e1498.24, P Conclusions Prevalence of DD was higher in stroke patients, and was more associated with females, obesity, and neuropathy. The patient cost is high and patients use more health resources.