HbA1c better predictor of post-stroke depression risk compared to fasting plasma glucose

China: Findings from a meta-analysis published in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews showed that higher peripheral blood glucose levels in the acute phase of stroke raise post-stroke depression (PSD) risk. Also, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was found to be a better biomarker than fasting plasma glucose (FPG) for post-stroke depression risk. 

A stroke is defined as a sudden blood supply loss to the brain resulting in permanent tissue damage caused by thrombotic, embolic, or hemorrhagic events. Post-stroke depression is a common psychiatric disorder that impacts patients' neurological recovery after a stroke. There is a requirement for particular biomarkers to predict post-stroke depression. Many previous studies have shown diabetes to be a predictor of post-stroke depression. However, there remains controversy on whether increased levels of FPG and HbA1c are tied to an elevated PSD risk. 

Shaokuan Fang, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Centre, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China, and colleagues comprehensively searched databases for eligible studies. The relationship between peripheral blood glucose levels during the acute phase of stroke and PSD risk was examined using standard mean differences. When appropriate unadjusted or adjusted odds ratio (ORs) were available narrative syntheses and meta-analyses were conducted. The analysis included a total of 21 prospective cohort studies.