Interrelationship between fatigue and recovery of physical function in stroke survivors: a longitudinal mixed-methods study.

The study analysed only 32 quantitative participants and 9 qualitative participants from one centre, so the findings may not apply to other stroke populations. Only 28 of 32 quantitative participants completed six months, although 32 were analysed. People with severe aphasia or cognitive impairment were excluded, and all participants had mild or moderate stroke severity, with NIHSS scores from 0 to 16, so this does not describe more severe stroke. Cognition, pain, and sleep were not systematically assessed, so other contributors to fatigue may have been missed. Fatigue was measured mainly with the Fatigue Severity Scale, which captures interference rather than all fatigue domains. The qualitative sample was too small to capture the full range of fatigue experiences. The study was not preregistered, so analytic choices are less transparent. Participants with pre-stroke fatigue were not excluded, and some developed depression, infection, or other conditions during follow-up, which could have affected fatigue and function.

The authors declared no financial conflicts of interest. The study was funded by a Southern Nursing Research Society dissertation research grant and a Sigma Theta Tau International chapter research grant.

Do not conclude that treating fatigue will improve physical function. This study observed an association in a small cohort and did not test a fatigue intervention. It also cannot separate fatigue from depression, age, and other conditions that may affect recovery.