High levels of plasma fibrinogen and prothrombin time are related to post-stroke emotional impairment

Introduction: Studies have shown that high levels of the fibrinogen (FIB) are related to anxiety and depression. However, the relationship between FIB and post-stroke emotional impairment (PSEI) remains unclear, which includes post-stroke anxiety (PSA) and post-stroke depression (PSD). Methods: A total of 555 patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) were enrolled in this study. Ultimately, 443 patients completed 1-month follow-up. Blood samples were collected at hospital admission. Clinical depression and anxiety were evaluated 1 month after stroke. Results: High levels of FIB were observed in patients with PSEI compared with the non-EI group (p = 0.003). Levels of FIB were divided into three tertiles, and the prevalence of PSEI was significantly higher in the third FIB tertile (p = 0.016). After adjusting potential confounders, the third FIB tertile was independently associated with the prevalence of PSEI (OR = 1.785, 95%CI = 1.049-3.039, p = 0.033), taking the first tertile as a reference. In this model, prothrombin time (PT) was also independently associated with the prevalence of PSEI (OR = 1.602, 95%CI = 1.181-2.173, p = 0.002). Conclusion: High levels of plasma FIB and PT are associated with the prevalence of PSEI.