An Analysis of Characteristics of Post-Stroke Fatigue in Patients without Depression: A Retrospective Chart Review

Abstract

Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is among the most common stroke sequelae and affects rehabilitation, resulting in poor recovery. A main influencing factor may be depression, which has been investigated with fatigue in several clinical trials. We aimed to evaluate the characteristics of fatigue in post-stroke patients without depression through a retrospective chart review. The medical records of stroke patients hospitalized in the Stroke and Brain Disease Center, Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital were reviewed. Stroke patients without depression were divided into a PSF group and control group (without fatigue). The demographic characteristics, type of stroke, medical history, laboratory examinations, clinical features, and pattern identification of each patient were recorded and compared between the study groups. The medical records of 216 patients were reviewed; 85 and 131 patients were assigned to the PSF and control group, respectively. Apolipoprotein A1 levels were significantly lower in the PSF than in the control group (105.6 ± 16.5 vs. 116.2 ± 21.8). We found a significantly higher occurrence of reversal cold of the extremities and a lower probability of fire-heat pattern in the PSF group than in the control group. This study suggests that apolipoprotein A1 levels are lower and cold manifestations are more common in PSF patients without depression than in those without fatigue.