Prevalence and correlates of post-stroke anxiety in Changde, China during 2023 following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions

Abstract

Background: Studies on post-stroke anxiety (PSA) following the lifting of COVID-19 restriction measures are currently lacking. We investigated the factors affecting PSA after full release of COVID-19 epidemic in China. Methods: Patients with stroke admitted to the First People’s Hospital of Changde City from March 2023 to September 2023 participated in a questionnaire survey comprising a general demographic questionnaire, the Generalized Anxiety Scale-7. Additionally, data on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, modified Rankin Scale, C-reactive protein (CRP), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), homocysteine, TOAST classification, and the stroke site were collected, and the correlations between these indices and the mental health conditions of the patients were evaluated. Results: Among 947 patients, the incidence of PSA was 14.57%.PSA was not linked to prior COVID-19 infection. This study found that Sleep duration (P=0.01), hyperlipidemia (P=0.01), migraine (P=0.02), and family history of stroke (P=0.01) were associated with PSA. Conclusions: Our study found that the prevalence of PSA was 14.57%. In addition, sleep duration, hyperlipidemia, migraine and family history of stroke were independent risk factors for PSA following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.