Cerebral microbleeds and fatigue in stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

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).

CONCLUSION

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.