Post-stroke fatigue: A factor associated with inability to return to work in patients <60 years-A 1-year follow-up

This study investigated the association between post-stroke fatigue and inability to return to work/drive in young patients aged <60 years with first stroke who were employed prior to infarct while controlling for stroke severity, age, extent of disability, cognitive function, and depression. The Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) was used to evaluate post-stroke fatigue in this 1-year prospective cohort study. Follow-ups were completed at 3, 6, and 12 months post rehabilitation discharge. A total of 112 patients were recruited, 7 were excluded, due to loss to follow-up (n = 6) and being palliative (n = 1), resulting in 105 participants (71% male, average age 49 ±10.63 years). Stroke patients receiving both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation were consecutively recruited. Persistent fatigue remained associated with inability to return to work when controlling for other factors at 3 months (adjusted OR = 18, 95% CI: 2.9, 110.3, p = 0.002), 6 months (adjusted OR = 29.81, 95% CI: 1.7, 532.8, p = 0.021), and 12 months (adjusted OR = 31.6, 95% CI: 1.8, 545.0, p = 0.018). No association was found between persistent fatigue and return to driving. Fatigue at admission was associated with inability to return to work at 3 months but not return to drive. Persistent fatigue was found to be associated with inability to resume work but not driving. It may be beneficial to routinely screen post-stroke fatigue in rehabilitation and educate stroke survivors and employers on the impacts of post-stroke fatigue on return to work.