POST-STROKE FATIGUE AND ITS DIMENSIONS OVER THE SECOND YEAR AFTER ACUTE CEREBROVASCULAR EVENTS

Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is a common, long-lasting consequence of acute cerebrovascular events (ACE). Aim. To assess the rate and intensity of PSF over the second year after strokes and transient ischemic attacks. Material and methods. Initially patients were followed up and examined in 12 months (201 cases) and finally in 24 months (126 cases) after ACE occurrence; through these time intervals patients were examined quarterly. PSF was measured by fatigue assessment scale (FAS), multidimensional fatigue inventory-20 (MFI-20) and fatigue severity scale (FSS). Results. According to FAS and FSS, rate of PSF over the second year after ACE occurrence were unchangeable within narrow limits, 31,7%-33,0%. Rates of global, physical, mental, activity-related and motivational post-stroke fatigue, according to MFI-20, were also stable, within 25,0%-28,6%, 24,6%-27,4%, 27,8%-30,2%, 22,4%-26,2% and 19,4%-22,0%, respectively. Patients with strokes, compared with transient ischemic attack patients, had more common general, physical, mental, motivational and activity-related post-stroke fatigue domains in 12 and 15 months after ACE occurrence. Intensity of PSF due to FAS (range – 29,0 (26,0-33,0) – 28,0 (26,0-32,2)) and FSS (5,5 (5,2-5,9) – 4,8 (4,5-5,2)), as well as intensity of physical (13,0 (12,0-13,0) – 12,0 (12,0-13,0)) and activity-related (13,0 (12,0-13,0) – 12,0 (12,0-13,5)) PSF domains due to MFI-20, was statistically stable, whereas severity of global (14,0 (13,0-15,0) – 13,0 (12,0-14,0)), mental (15,0 (14,0-16,0) – 13,0 (12,0-14,0)) and motivational (15,0 (14,0-16,0) – 13,0 (13,0-15,0)) PSF domains significantly decreased through the second year after ACE. Conclusion. 1. PSF rate as well as PSF dimension rates were stable over the second year after ACE regardless the fatigue scales used. 2. Intensity of gobal, mental and motivational post-stroke fatigue domains, according to MFI-20, significantly decreased over the second year after ACE occurrence.