Cerebral microbleeds and fatigue in stroke.
OBJECTIVE
Poststroke fatigue (PSF) is a frequent and persistent problem in stroke survivors. The neuroanatomical model of PSF remains unclear. This study examined the association between PSF and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs).


METHODS
The sample comprised 199 patients with acute ischemic stroke. A psychiatrist who was blind to the subjects' radiological data administered the Chinese version of the Fatigue Severity Scale. PSF was defined as a Fatigue Severity Scale score of 4.0 or more. The locations of CMBs were evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging within 7 days of admission.


RESULTS
Of the 199 patients screened, 47 (23.6%) had PSF. The PSF group had a higher Geriatric Depression Scale score (p < 0.001) and a trend for a higher age (p = 0.074). The proportion of patients with deep CMBs was significantly higher in the PSF group (66.0 vs. 48.7%; p = 0.038). The presence of deep CMBs was a significant independent predictor of PSF with an odds ratio of 2.68 (p = 0.016).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that deep CMBs are associated with a higher risk of PSF. Further studies are needed to clarify whether CMBs affect the clinical presentation, treatment response and outcome of PSF.
Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, PR China.
Wai Kwong
WK
Tang
Xiang Xin
XX
Liu
Yang Kun
YK
Chen
Jill
J
Abrigo
Winnie Chiu Wing
WC
Chu
Vincent Chung Tong
VC
Mok
Gabor S
GS
Ungvari
Ka Sing
KS
Wong
D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications*; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011379:Prognosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*