Fatigue in stroke rehabilitation patients: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Stroke is a primary cause of adult disability, necessitating rehabilitation for two-thirds of survivors.
• Fatigue is a prevalent post-stroke issue, hindering rehabilitation progress and recovery.
• No prior research has compared fatigue experiences between small-vessel disease (SVD) and large-vessel disease (LVD) ischemic stroke types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot a study assessing the feasibility and design for a larger investigation.
• To estimate the magnitude of fatigue difference between SVD and LVD stroke patients.
• To inform sample size calculations for a definitive study on fatigue in ischemic stroke.

Main Methods:

• A cohort observational design was employed.
• Thirteen participants were recruited from King's College Hospital during rehabilitation.
• The Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) was administered at the start of the second week of rehabilitation.

Main Results:

• A trend indicated higher fatigue scores in large-vessel disease (LVD) participants compared to small-vessel disease (SVD) participants.
• This trend persisted even after controlling for age; gender was not a confounding factor.
• 85% of all participants reported fatigue during early rehabilitation.

Conclusions:

• Fatigue is highly prevalent in ischemic stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation.
• The study suggests LVD may be associated with greater fatigue, though results were non-significant.
• The methodology proved feasible, providing a foundation for future, larger-scale research.