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. 2016 Mar 16;17(3):390.
doi: 10.3390/ijms17030390.

Long-Term Treatment with Citicoline Prevents Cognitive Decline and Predicts a Better Quality of Life after a First Ischemic Stroke

Jose Alvarez-Sabín  1 , Estevo Santamarina  2 , Olga Maisterra  3 , Carlos Jacas  4 , Carlos Molina  5 , Manuel Quintana  6
Affiliations

Long-Term Treatment with Citicoline Prevents Cognitive Decline and Predicts a Better Quality of Life after a First Ischemic Stroke

Jose Alvarez-Sabín et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Stroke, as the leading cause of physical disability and cognitive impairment, has a very significant impact on patients' quality of life (QoL). The objective of this study is to know the effect of citicoline treatment in Qol and cognitive performance in the long-term in patients with a first ischemic stroke. This is an open-label, randomized, parallel study of citicoline vs. usual treatment. All subjects were selected 6 weeks after suffering a first ischemic stroke and randomized into parallel arms. Neuropsychological evaluation was performed at 1 month, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years after stroke, and QoL was measured using the EuroQoL-5D questionnaire at 2 years. 163 patients were followed during 2 years. The mean age was 67.5 years-old, and 50.9% were women. Age and absence of citicoline treatment were independent predictors of both utility and poor quality of life. Patients with cognitive impairment had a poorer QoL at 2 years (0.55 vs. 0.66 in utility, p = 0.015). Citicoline treatment improved significantly cognitive status during follow-up (p = 0.005). In conclusion, treatment with long-term citicoline is associated with a better QoL and improves cognitive status 2 years after a first ischemic stroke.

Keywords: citicoline; cognitive impairment; ischemic stroke; quality of life.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Quality of life according to the level of each EuroQol-5D dimension. Usual activities was affected in a higher number of patients.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Citicoline compared with quality of life for different age groups. Patients not treated with citicoline were more likely to have a poor quality of life in all age subgroups. Quintiles: 1st: <60, 2nd: 60–64, 3rd:65–70, 4th:70–75, 5th: >75.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Global cognitive impairment during follow-up. Patients treated with citicoline show a significant improvement in cognitive status during follow-up (* p = 0.005). After the first year, only citicoline-treated patients continue to improve cognitive status.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Global cognitive impairment and quality of life. Patients with GCI had a poorer quality of life at 2 years post ischemic stroke.
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