Suicidal ideation prevalent among stroke survivors

Nearly 8% of stroke survivors had suicidal ideation — a proportion exceeding that of cancer survivors and patients with other major illnesses — according to study results presented at the International Stroke Conference 2013 in Honolulu.

“Given the high prevalence of suicidal thoughts among stroke survivors, perhaps regular screening for suicidal ideation, in addition to depression, is warranted,” study researcher Amytis Towfighi, MD, of the University of Southern California, said in a press release.

Amytis Towfighi

Towfighi and colleagues assessed the prevalence of suicidal ideation in a nationally representative sample of stroke survivors who had participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys between 2005 and 2010. The researchers examined data on sociodemographic factors, health behaviors and comorbid conditions, and assessed potential predictors of suicidal ideation, which were compared with patients with a history of myocardial infarction, diabetes and cancer.

According to the study abstract, an estimated 6,235,528 US adults reported a history of stroke. One in 12 (7.8%) adult stroke survivors reported contemplating suicide, a higher prevalence compared with those with a history of MI (6.2%), diabetes (5.2%) and cancer (4.1%). Additional analyses showed that the greatest predictors of suicidal ideation included depression score, BMI, education level, income poverty ratio, female sex and marital status.
According to Towfighi, 17% of stroke survivors had depression.

“Post-stroke depression can be associated with poorer functional outcomes, worse quality of life, higher mortality, low psychological well-being, suicidal ideation and suicide,” she said.

For more information:

Towfighi A. #TMP92. Presented at: American Stroke Conference 2013; Feb. 6-8, 2013; Honolulu.