Poststroke fatigue: Course and its relation to personal and stroke-related factors

Objectives: To describe the course of fatigue during the first year poststroke and to determine the relation between fatigue at 1 year poststroke and personal characteristics, stroke characteristics, and poststroke impairments. Design: Inception cohort. Setting: Rehabilitation center. Participants: Patients (N=167) with a first-ever supratentorial stroke admitted for inpatient rehabilitation. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure: The Fatigue Severity Scale measured the presence and impact of fatigue at admittance for inpatient rehabilitation, as well as at 6 months and 1 year poststroke. Results: At admission, 6 months and 1 year poststroke, fatigue was present in 51.5%, 64.1%, and 69.5% of the patients, respectively. Fatigue impact 1 year poststroke was greater among patients with more depressive symptoms, higher age, women, and patients with a locus of control more directed to powerful others. Conclusions: Because fatigue impact is an increasing problem during the first year poststroke, it deserves more attention in clinical practice and scientific research. Locus of control and depression are related to poststroke fatigue and might be important foci for future interventions.