Prior employment status and obesity do not predict post-stroke fatigue

Abstract

Aim: To investigate whether prior employment status or obesity pose as risk factors for post stroke fatigue in patients following an ischemic stroke. Materials & methods: A total of 121 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of ischemic stroke in the past 3 years were enrolled into the study. Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) was assessed using the fatigue assessment scale (no PSF ≤21, PSF 22–50). Patients were then identified based on their employment status (previously worked) or obesity (BMI) and compared with the presence of PSF. Results: A Fisher’s exact test was applied to determine the association between PSF and obesity (p = 1.000). A Fisher’s exact test was applied to show the association between PSF and employment status (p = 0.384). In logistic regression, employment status did not independently predict dichotomized fatigue assessment scale (adjusted odds ratio 1.34, 95% CI: 0.51–3.50, p = 0.557). Conclusion: Previous employment status and obesity did not independently predict PSF in an urban, minority community.