Abstract 299: Implications of Age on Post Stroke Depression in Intracerebral Hemorrhage Patients

Introduction Risk Factors for stroke consistently have been researched regarding ischemic strokes, but unfortunately are overlooked in respect to hemorrhagic strokes. Intracerebral Hemorrhages (ICH) are a critical disease consistently associated with high mortality rates and poor functional outcomes among survivors. Research on non‐traumatic, spontaneous ICHs have progressed in acute treatment strategies, such as surgical interventions and evacuations, however insight into possible associations with risk factors have elucidated researchers. In this study we aim to investigate social factors including sex, age, and race to understand if non‐modifiable factors may affect functional outcomes after ICH. Methods A standard battery of questionnaires were given to patients with ICH during their hospitalization (N=51). Depression was measured via PHQ‐9, with scores above 5 denoting moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Social Isolation is measured utilizing UCLA Loneliness and Lubben Social Network Scale; these questionnaires measure patients’ self‐reported loneliness levels and social network respectively. To assess functional outcome of the patients, a Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score is assigned prior to ICH (pre‐mRS), immediately after (post‐mRS), and 3 months after discharge (3‐month mRS), based on their functional abilities. An increase in mRS score denotes more functional disability, with a score of 6 denoting death. Results We found that ICH patients under 55 years of age had significantly higher levels of depression during their hospitalization than patients 55 and older (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in patients’ pre‐mRS scores, which was utilized to determine if these results were a ramification of younger patients having more disabling comorbidities and therefore less functional ability prior to stroke. There was no significant correlation with pre‐mRS or post‐mRS and depressive symptoms during hospitalization. There were also no significant differences between UCLA Loneliness and Lubben Social Network scores when stratified by age. We found no significant differences with depressive symptoms among sex, race, and ethnicity, or with 3‐month mRS. Conclusion Social Isolation and pre‐hospitalization disability have minimal effects on functional outcomes, underscoring the need for providers to consider other modifiable risk factors in treating younger ICH patients. Understanding the physiological outcomes after stroke and the psychological changes post‐stroke must be studied more to try to lessen the burden among post‐stroke patients. Our finding of younger patients with higher levels of depressive symptoms compared to the older population must be considered by providers when treating younger ICH patients during their acute stage to prevent worse functional outcomes among this vulnerable population.