Patient Health Questionnaire-9 predicts the functional outcome of stroke patients in convalescent rehabilitation ward

Abstract

Introduction: Poststroke depression (PSD) negatively affects the functional outcome of stroke patients. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a validated screening tool for detecting PSD. This study investigated the relationship between PHQ-9 score and functional outcomes in stroke patients in a convalescent rehabilitation ward by evaluating functional independence measure (FIM) gain scores and the proportion of patients discharged. Methods: In this retrospective study conducted from January 2017 to September 2019, consecutive stroke patients who were admitted to the convalescent rehabilitation ward and could answer PHQ-9 were assessed. The association between PHQ-9 scores at the time of admission to the convalescent rehabilitation ward and outcomes (FIM gain score and the proportion of patients discharged) was statistically analyzed. Results: Among the 215 patients enrolled in the study, 62 (28.8%) were assessed as having depression, in whom PHQ-9 scores were 5 or above. Multivariate analysis revealed that the PHQ-9 score on admission to the convalescent rehabilitation ward was a significant independent factor influencing the FIM gain score (p =.009). In addition, a multivariate analysis revealed that the PHQ-9 score at the time of admission to the convalescent rehabilitation ward was a significant independent factor influencing the inability to discharge a patient (odds ratio 1.24, 95% confidence interval 1.12–1.39, p