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Association between high serum total bilirubin and post‐stroke depression
Author(s) -
Tang Wai Kwong,
Liang Huajun,
Chu Winnie Chiu Wing,
Mok Vincent,
Ungvari Gabor S.,
Wong Ka Sing
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1111/pcn.12051
Subject(s) - depression (economics) , association (psychology) , medicine , bilirubin , stroke (engine) , psychology , psychotherapist , mechanical engineering , engineering , economics , macroeconomics
Aim High serum bilirubin predicts depression in non‐stroke subjects, but it is unknown whether it also predicts post‐stroke depression ( PSD ). This study examined the association between the risk of PSD and bilirubin level. Methods Six hundred and thirty‐five patients with acute ischemic stroke in H ong K ong were recruited. Serum total bilirubin, alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase levels were measured in all patients during their hospital stay. A psychiatrist gave the S tructured C linical I nterview for DSM‐IV to all patients 3 months after the index stroke, with 61 patients diagnosed with PSD : 27 with major depression, 24 with minor depression and 10 with dysthymia. Results In the full sample, the 25%, 50% and 75% percentile bilirubin levels were 7.0, 10.0 and 14.0 μmol/L, respectively. Significant differences were found between the PSD and non‐ PSD groups in terms of bilirubin level ( P = 0.006). In post‐hoc comparisons, the proportion of patients with bilirubin ≥14.1 μmol/L was significantly higher in the PSD group (37.7% vs 19.7%, P = 0.001). In the final regression model, bilirubin level (≥14.1 μmol/L) remained a significant independent predictor of PSD , with an odds ratio of 2.4. Conclusions High bilirubin level is associated with PSD . Further investigations are needed to clarify the underlying pathophysiological link between bilirubin level and PSD .