Serum Growth Differentiation Factor 15 Levels Are Associated With Depression After Ischemic Stroke

BACKGROUND: The effect of serum growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF‐15) on poststroke depression (PSD) remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the association between serum GDF‐15 and PSD among patients with ischemic stroke. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was based on a random sample from CATIS (China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke). A total of 572 patients from 7 participating hospitals with GDF‐15 levels were included in this analysis. The study outcome was depression (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score ≥8) at 3 months after ischemic stroke. A total of 231 (40.4%) patients with stroke experienced PSD within 3 months. The multivariate‐adjusted odds ratio of PSD associated with the highest tertile of serum GDF‐15 was 2.92 (95% CI, 1.36–6.27) compared with the lowest tertile. Each SD increase in log‐transformed GDF‐15 was associated with a 42% (95% CI, 2%–97%) increased risk of PSD, and a linear association between serum GDF‐15 and the risk of PSD was observed (P for linearity=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum GDF‐15 levels in the acute phase of ischemic stroke were independently associated with PSD, suggesting that GDF‐15 may be a valuable prognostic biomarker for PSD.