TY - JOUR

T1 - Dimensions of post-stroke fatigue: a two-year follow-up study.

AU - Christensen, Doris

AU - Johnsen, Soeren Paaske

AU - Watt, Torquil

AU - Harder, Ingegerd

AU - Kirkevold, Marit

AU - Andersen, Grethe

N1 - (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the course of poststroke fatigue in a cohort of first-time stroke patients compared to the general population, and to identify clinically relevant features of post-stroke fatigue. METHODS: We performed a follow-up study of 165 patients with first-time stroke admitted to acute stroke units at the Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. A reference group of 1,069 persons was sampled from the general population. Fatigue was assessed using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20) covering five scales of fatigue (General Fatigue, Physical Fatigue, Reduced Activity, Reduced Motivation, and Mental Fatigue). RESULTS: Compared to the general population, stroke patients reported higher levels of Physical Fatigue. Minor or no differences were found for the other fatigue scales. Pathological fatigue, defined as a score >or=12 on the General Fatigue scale, was reported by 59% (95% CI: 51-66%), 44% (95% CI: 36-51%), 38% (95% CI: 31-46%), and 40% (95% CI: 32-48%) of stroke patients 10 days, 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years following hospitalization for stroke, respectively. Post-stroke fatigue levels decreased after three months and remained stable throughout the remainder of follow-up. Poor functional outcome was consistently associated with increased levels of fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: Post-stroke fatigue is a common condition primarily characterized by increased levels of Physical Fatigue. The pathological mechanisms underlying post-stroke fatigue and its clinical implications require further study.

AB - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the course of poststroke fatigue in a cohort of first-time stroke patients compared to the general population, and to identify clinically relevant features of post-stroke fatigue. METHODS: We performed a follow-up study of 165 patients with first-time stroke admitted to acute stroke units at the Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. A reference group of 1,069 persons was sampled from the general population. Fatigue was assessed using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20) covering five scales of fatigue (General Fatigue, Physical Fatigue, Reduced Activity, Reduced Motivation, and Mental Fatigue). RESULTS: Compared to the general population, stroke patients reported higher levels of Physical Fatigue. Minor or no differences were found for the other fatigue scales. Pathological fatigue, defined as a score >or=12 on the General Fatigue scale, was reported by 59% (95% CI: 51-66%), 44% (95% CI: 36-51%), 38% (95% CI: 31-46%), and 40% (95% CI: 32-48%) of stroke patients 10 days, 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years following hospitalization for stroke, respectively. Post-stroke fatigue levels decreased after three months and remained stable throughout the remainder of follow-up. Poor functional outcome was consistently associated with increased levels of fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: Post-stroke fatigue is a common condition primarily characterized by increased levels of Physical Fatigue. The pathological mechanisms underlying post-stroke fatigue and its clinical implications require further study.

U2 - 10.1159/000139660

DO - 10.1159/000139660

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 18560216

VL - 26

SP - 134

EP - 141

JO - Cerebrovascular Diseases

JF - Cerebrovascular Diseases

SN - 1015-9770

IS - 2

ER -