RETRACTED: Association between C-reactive protein levels and development of post-stroke depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background and aims Different prospective cohort studies have focused on the C-reactive protein ( ie, a pentameric protein) biomarker as a predictor of post-stroke depression. In this review and meta-analysis, we will attempt to synthesize the evidence for the association between C-reactive protein and the development of post-stroke depression. Methods We systematically searched five academic databases for relevant studies according to the PRISMA guidelines. We evaluate the comparative levels of C-reactive protein in patients with stroke and/without depression, and analyzed the hazard ratio to evaluate the overall risk of C-reactive protein levels in patients with stroke. Results We selected eligible studies with 2534 patients (mean age: 65.2 ± 5.9 years) from the initial 10 926 studies in the databases. Increased C-reactive protein levels (Hedge's g, 0.84) in patients with stroke and depression as compared to patients with stroke without depression. Increased levels of C-reactive protein were associated with the onset of depression (Hazard's ratio, 1.6) in patients with stroke. Conclusion Our findings provide an association of C-reactive protein with the development of post-stroke depression, and present higher levels than patients with stroke without depression. Additionally, our findings support the role of C-reactive protein levels as markers for predicting depression in patients with stroke.

C-Reactive Protein: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, False Test Results and a Novel Diagnostic Algorithm for Clinicians

“…Moreover, a meta-analysis demonstrated that elevated CRP is associated with the increased possibility of all-cause mortality in acute ischemic stroke subjects. Another study concluded that abnormal CRP may be linked to the stenosis of some cerebral arteries, and also, elevated hsCRP can possibly predict post-stroke disability, apathy, delirium, fatigue, cognitive impairment, and depression [550][551][552][553][554][555][556][557]. However, it was noted that the importance of CRP in ischemic stroke maybe less in older adults than in middle-aged populations, whereas the rapid post-stroke or post-MI hsCRP measurements showing an acute increase are not reflective of pre-stroke levels and may be less reliable for long-term risk stratification [77].…”