Factors Associated with Poststroke Fatigue: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Poststroke fatigue (PSF) is a prevalent and debilitating symptom following a stroke.
• Currently, PSF lacks a universally agreed-upon definition and standardized assessment methods.
• The underlying causes and contributing factors of PSF remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically identify and characterize factors associated with poststroke fatigue.
• To synthesize current knowledge on the etiology of PSF.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a systematic literature review of studies indexed in MEDLINE.
• Included original research that measured PSF and potential associated factors.
• Extracted data using predefined fields from selected articles.

Main Results:

• PSF is more common in female and older stroke survivors, though sociodemographic factors have minimal impact.
• Strong correlations exist between PSF and emotional disturbances (depression, anxiety).
• Attentional deficits, particularly slowed processing speed, are linked to PSF.
• Stroke type and severity do not show a clear association with PSF.
• Potential contributing mechanisms include frontothalamostriatal system alterations and inflammation.
• Prestroke fatigue, sleep disorders, and pain are also associated with PSF.

Conclusions:

• PSF is multifactorial, with significant links to psychological and cognitive factors.
• Understanding these associations is crucial for enhancing stroke patient care.
• Further research into PSF mechanisms can guide the development of targeted interventions.