Analysis of factors affecting acute fatigue in patients with acute ischemic stroke: A single-center study from China

Abstract

Objective  Examination of the current status of acute fatigue in patients with acute ischemic stroke and analysis of contributing factors.

Methods  A convenience sampling method was utilized to recruit 420 patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke, who were admitted to the affiliated hospital of Putian University in Fujian Province, China, between October 2022 and December 2023. Data collection involved the administration of a general information questionnaire, the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), the Fear of Progression Questionnaire (FoP-Q-SF), the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), the Barthel Index, and the Modified Rankin Scale (MRS).

Results  The mean score for Post-stroke Fatigue (PSF) was 3.08 ± 1.52, and the prevalence rate of elevated PSF was 37.4 %. Unconditional logistic regression analysis revealed that social support functioned as a protective factor against fatigue in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Conversely, being female, having chronic comorbidities, having a stroke located in the basal ganglion, high Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) scores, poor self-care ability, and fear of disease progression were identified as risk factors for fatigue (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01).

Conclusion  Perceived Stress Factor (PSF) is a common and serious consequence following stroke, which considerably impacts patients’ recovery and overall quality of life. Consequently, clinical practice should prioritize the identification and management of PSF through early intervention and targeted therapeutic strategies to enhance patient prognosis and quality of life. Additionally, further research is warranted to investigate the underlying biological mechanisms of PSF and to develop potential intervention strategies. This study adopted a cross-sectional research design.