PURPOSE: An audit was conducted to assess the frequency of fatigue after stroke, to determine the impact on daily life, and whether it was discussed with clinicians. METHOD: Patients were recruited from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust stroke service. Patients were interviewed about their fatigue, and the Fatigue Severity Subscale (FSS-FAI), Brief Assessment Schedule for Depression Cards (BASDEC), Barthel Index and Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living (EADL) Scale were administered. RESULTS: 64 patients were recruited, with a mean age 73.5 years (SD 14.0, range 37-94 years), 37 (58%) as in-patients and 27 (42%) as outpatients. There were 41 (64%) who reported significant levels of fatigue and 31 (48%) with significant fatigue on the Fatigue Severity Scale. Demographic and clinical variables were not significantly related to fatigue (p > 0.05), apart from gender, with women reporting significantly more fatigue than men (p = 0.006). There was a moderate correlation between the BASDEC and FSS (r(s) = 0.41, p = 0.002). Of the 41 participants who reported fatigue, 33 (81%) had not discussed this with their clinician. CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue was a common problem after stroke. There was a lack of awareness in both patients and clinicians and little advice being given to patients with fatigue.
PURPOSE: An audit was conducted to assess the frequency of fatigue after stroke, to determine the impact on daily life, and whether it was discussed with clinicians. METHOD:Patients were recruited from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust stroke service. Patients were interviewed about their fatigue, and the Fatigue Severity Subscale (FSS-FAI), Brief Assessment Schedule for Depression Cards (BASDEC), Barthel Index and Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living (EADL) Scale were administered. RESULTS: 64 patients were recruited, with a mean age 73.5 years (SD 14.0, range 37-94 years), 37 (58%) as in-patients and 27 (42%) as outpatients. There were 41 (64%) who reported significant levels of fatigue and 31 (48%) with significant fatigue on the Fatigue Severity Scale. Demographic and clinical variables were not significantly related to fatigue (p > 0.05), apart from gender, with women reporting significantly more fatigue than men (p = 0.006). There was a moderate correlation between the BASDEC and FSS (r(s) = 0.41, p = 0.002). Of the 41 participants who reported fatigue, 33 (81%) had not discussed this with their clinician. CONCLUSIONS:Fatigue was a common problem after stroke. There was a lack of awareness in both patients and clinicians and little advice being given to patients with fatigue.
Authors: Zeeshan Butt; Jin-Shei Lai; Deepa Rao; Allen W Heinemann; Alex Bill; David Cella Journal: J Psychosom Res Date: 2012-11-15 Impact factor: 3.006
Authors: Arthur Liesz; Alexander Dalpke; Eva Mracsko; Daniel J Antoine; Stefan Roth; Wei Zhou; Huan Yang; Shin-Young Na; Mustafa Akhisaroglu; Thomas Fleming; Tatjana Eigenbrod; Peter P Nawroth; Kevin J Tracey; Roland Veltkamp Journal: J Neurosci Date: 2015-01-14 Impact factor: 6.167