FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH POST-STROKE FATIGUE DURING THE SECOND HALF YEAR AFTER STROKE

Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is a common and often debilitating sequel of both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes Aim - identify socio-demographic, personal and psychological factors associated with different PSF domains over the second half year after stroke occurrence. There were examined patients consequently in definite time points: at 6 months (156 patients), at 9 months (139 patients) and at 12 months (128 patients) after ischemic or hemorrhagic strokes. Global PSF and certain PSF domains (physical, mental, motivational, activity-related) were measured by multidimensional fatigue inventory-20 scale. In univariate logistic regression analysis most of the studied variables (gender, marital status, education level, apathetic impairments, excessive daytime sleepiness, waist circumference, arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus) were not significantly associated with global PSF as well as with any PSF aspect at 6, 9 and 12 months after stroke occurrence. On the other hand, univariate logistic regression analysis showed reliable associations between risk of global PSF, risk of all PSF domains and anxious as well as depressive signs, reliable associations between risk of mental PSF and cognitive impairments over the second half year after stroke. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that depressive signs and cognitive impairments were independent predictors of mental PSF over studied post-stroke period. Screening and early management of depressive signs, anxious signs and cognitive impairments probably may be helpful for PSF prevention over the second half year after stroke occurrence.