Depression Outcomes Among Patients Treated With Fluoxetine for Stroke Recovery
Osvaldo P. Almeida, Graeme J. Hankey, Andrew H. Ford, Christopher Etherton‐Beer, Leon Flicker, Maree L. Hackett, Gillian Mead, Martin Dennis, Laurent Billot, Stephen Jan, Thomas Lung, Veronica Murray, Erik Lundström, Craig S. Anderson, Rob Herbert, Gregory Carter, Geoffrey A. Donnan, Huy‐Thang Nguyen, John Gommans, Qilong Yi, Qiang Li, Séverine Bompoint, Sarah Barrett, Anne Claxton, Julia O’Dea, Michelle Tang, Clare Williams, Shenae Peterson, Christie Drummond, Uyen-Ha Hong, Linh-Thi My Le, Tram-Thi Bich Ngo, Yen-Bao Mai, Huyen-Thanh Han, Nhu-Quynh Truong, Huong-Thi Bich Nguyen, Hai-Thanh Ngo, Thi Binh Nguyen, Oanh-Thi Kieu Ha, Trang-Le Huyen Nguyen, Richard I. Lindley, Peter W. New, Andrew Lee, Thanh-Trung Tran, Loan-Tran Truc Mai Le, Thuy-Le Vu Kieu, Sang-Van Nguyen, Thuy-Anh Diem Nguyen, Tam-Nhat Dang, Hanh-Thi Truc Phan, Loan-Thi Ngoc Vo, Mai-Hue Nguyen, Hanh-Cao Dang, Hong-Thi Tran, Linh-Thi Cam Dam, Trinh-Thi Kim Ngo, Thai-Nguyen Thanh Pham, Binh-Nguyen Pham, Nha-Thi Thanh Dao, Huong-Thi Bich Nguyen, Linh-Thi Cam Le, Chi-Minh Do, Huy-Quoc Huynh, Giau-Thi Kim Tran, Oanh-Thi Le, Ly-Thi Khanh Tran, Chinh-Dinh Duong, Duong-Van Kieu, Ngoc‐Anh Le, Hoa-Ngoc Nguyen, Binh-Van Le, Long-Thanh Nguyen, Long-Van Nguyen, Tuan-Quoc Dinh, Tan-Van Vo, Tram-Ngoc Bui, Uyen-Thi To Hoang, Hien-Thi Bich Nguyen, Ha-Thi Thu Nguyen, Nga-Thuy Lam, Khanh-Kim Le, Phuong-Thanh Trinh, Hop-Quang Huynh, Thao-Thi Thu Nguyen, Huyen-Ngoc Lu, Tham-Hong Pham, Sam-Hoanh Nguyen, Ninh-Hong Le, Giang-Truong Nguyen, Bich-Thi Doan, Sung-Phuoc Pham, Duong-Huu Luong, Ha-Van Mai, Thuc-Van Tran, Phuong-Thi Do, Hoai-Thi Le, Chi-Van Nguyen, Phuong-Doan Nguyen, Ton-Duy Mai, Phuong-Viet Dao
Abstract
Importance: One in 3 adults experiences clinically significant symptoms of depression during the first year after a stroke, but evidence to support the use of antidepressants in this population remains scant. Objective: To investigate whether daily treatment with 20 mg of fluoxetine hydrochloride reduces the proportion of people affected by clinically significant symptoms of depression after stroke. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this secondary analysis of the Assessment of Fluoxetine in Stroke Recovery parallel-group, randomized (1:1 assignment), double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 1221 participants in Australia, New Zealand, and Vietnam were recruited between January 11, 2013, and June 30, 2019, and were followed up for 6 months. Adults aged 18 years or older were recruited 2 to 15 days after experiencing a stroke associated with modified Rankin Scale score of 1 or higher. Interventions: Fluoxetine hydrochloride, 20 mg, or matched placebo daily for 26 weeks. Main Outcomes and Measures: A 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score of 9 or lower was a prespecified secondary outcome of the trial. Assessments were completed at baseline and at 4, 12, and 26 weeks. Other outcomes of interest included participant-reported clinician diagnosis of depression, prescription of a nontrial antidepressant, or nonpharmacologic treatment of depression. Analysis was on an intention-to-treat basis. Results: A total of 607 participants (378 men [62.3%]; mean [SD] age, 64.3 [12.2] years) were randomly assigned treatment with placebo, and 614 participants (397 men [64.7%]; mean [SD] age, 63.4 [12.4] years) were randomly assigned treatment with 20 mg of fluoxetine hydrochloride daily. The groups were balanced for demographic and clinical measures. At baseline, 112 patients (18.5%) in the placebo group and 116 patients (18.9%) in the fluoxetine group had PHQ-9 scores of 9 or higher. During follow-up, 126 of 596 participants (21.1%) treated with placebo and 121 of 598 participants (20.2%) treated with fluoxetine had PHQ-9 scores of 9 or higher (P = .70). A similar proportion of participants with PHQ-9 scores less than 9 at baseline who were treated with fluoxetine hydrochloride and placebo developed PHQ-9 scores of 9 or higher during the trial (placebo, 72 of 488 [14.8%]; and fluoxetine, 63 of 485 [13.0%]; P = .43). A slightly higher number of participants in the placebo group than in the fluoxetine group had a participant-reported clinician diagnosis of depression (42 of 602 [7.0%] vs 26 of 601 [4.3%]; P = .05). By week 26, 14 participants (2.3%) in the placebo group and 12 participants (1.9%) in the fluoxetine group had died (P = .67). Conclusions and Relevance: Routine daily treatment with 20 mg of fluoxetine did not decrease the proportion of people affected by clinically significant symptoms of depression after a stroke, nor did it affect the proportion of people prescribed an antidepressant or receiving nonpharmacologic treatments compared with placebo. Trial Registration: http://anzctr.org.au Identifier: ACTRN12611000774921.