According to a new study published in Neurology, those who have ever experienced depression symptoms are 46% more likely to have a stroke than people who have never experienced depressive symptoms.

In the INTERSTROKE research, scientists gathered information on 26,877 cases and controls from 32 participating nations.

After adjusting for occupation, education, wealth index, diet, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and smoking history, it was found that having pre-stroke depressive symptoms was linked to a higher risk of acute stroke, including ischemic stroke (aOR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.31 - 1.58) and intracerebral hemorrhage (aOR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.28 - 1.91).

The risk of stroke increased by 35% in those with mild depression (aOR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.19 - 1.53) with increase in depression severity. Even after further adjustment for body mass index, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, hypertension, stress at work, home, and financially, the higher risk persisted. The link was more pronounced in men and individuals without hypertension. 

Data from the INTERSTROKE study also showed that those who experienced depressive symptoms before a stroke had worse results, including a considerably greater death rate in the first month following a stroke.

This study concludes that depression is a risk factor and advocates treating depression to reduce the risks of stroke. Standard stroke risk factors like hypertension should be continuously detected and treated with great care.

 (Source: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989369?src=#vp_1)