title: Fatigue after stroke: frequency and effect on daily life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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: Institute of Work, Health and Organisations, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
authors: Gail A
authors: GA
authors: Crosby
authors: Sunil
authors: S
authors: Munshi
authors: Aaron Sanjit
authors: AS
authors: Karat
authors: Esme
authors: E
authors: Worthington
authors: Nadina B
authors: NB
authors: Lincoln
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation