Prevalence of fatigue after stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and Purpose: Post-stroke fatigue is a debilitating and long-lasting condition. However, there are uncertainties regarding its prevalence and variability between studies. This review aims to estimate the prevalence of fatigue and determine the factors responsible for its variation in the literature. Methods: = 96). The included papers were appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tool for prevalence studies, and data were extracted by one reviewer. To understand the variation in PSF prevalence between papers, data were pooled and analysed based on relevant methodological (e.g. time of assessment) or clinical factors (e.g. depression) using Review Manager 5.4 software. The prevalence was calculated with a cut-off point of four or more using FSS and resulted in an estimate of 48% (95% CI 42-53%). Time of assessment (<6 vs ≥6 months), stroke type (ischaemic vs haemorrhagic/subarachnoid haemorrhage) and geographical location (East Asia vs Europe) could explain the prevalence variation between studies. Conclusions: Fatigue is prevalent among stroke survivors. This condition varies in terms of occurrence between studies; however, time of assessment, stroke type and geographical location might explain this variation. As this review estimates the overall burden of fatigue after stroke, it provides a useful indicator to inform policy, planning and healthcare professionals. Further efforts are required to investigate the mechanisms that lead to PSF, particularly in the groups that show high prevalence, in order to prevent or alleviate it.