Objective  To investigate the value of C-reactive protein (CRP) combined with neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in predicting post-stroke depression (PSD) of patients with ischemic stroke.

  Methods  Patients with acute ischemic stroke within 72 hours of onset were selected as research objects, and their clinical materials were collected. After 3 months of follow up, the patients were divided into non-PSD group and PSD group according to the occurrence of PSD, and the general materials of the two groups were compared. The relationship between NLR and PSD was analyzed, and the value of NLR combined with CRP in predicting PSD was discussed. PSD patients were further divided into mild depression group and moderate to severe depression group according to score of the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), and the differences of inflammatory indexes were compared between the two groups.

  Results  Compared with non-PSD group, the ratio of female patients, body mass index (BMI), ratio of diabetes patients, NLR, CRP level, the ratio of anterior circulation infarction, the score of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) on hospital admission, hospitalization time and HAMD score in the PSD group were significantly higher (P < 0.05). NLR and CRP in the mild depression group were (2.69±0.81) and (3.79±1.22) mg/dL respectively, which were significantly lower than (2.87±0.84) and (4.44±1.37) mg/dL in the moderate to severe depression group (P < 0.05). Multiple Logistic regression analysis showed that female, NIHSS score, CRP level and NLR were independent risk factors for PSD. Area under the curve (AUC) of NLR combined with CRP in predicting PSD was 0.86, the sensitivity was 92.14%, and the specificity was 83.26%.

  Conclusion  NLR combined with CRP has higher sensitivity and specificity in predicting PSD, which means it has a higher prediction value.