Fatigue after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is highly prevalent in the first year post onset and related to low physical fitness: A longitudinal study.

To investigate whether low physical fitness and inactive and sedentary lifestyles play a role in the severity of fatigue in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (a-SAH).

DESIGN: Prospective one-year follow-up study, including a total of 52 patients with a-SAH. Outcome measures included the Fatigue Severity Scale -score, peak oxygen uptake (V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak), isokinetic knee muscle strength (peak torque), physical activity (%24h period) and sedentary behavior (% waking hours), and were evaluated at six and twelve months post onset.

RESULTS: Fatigue was highly prevalent in the first year, and reported by 48% of the patients at six months and by 52% at twelve months post a-SAH. Fatigue was associated with the knee extension (p<0.001) and flexion strength (p<0.001). A non-significant trend for a relationship was found between fatigue and the aerobic capacity (p=0.079). No relationships were found between fatigue and physical activity or sedentary behavior. Fatigue could not be predicted by disease-related characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS: Half of the patients were fatigued in the first year after a-SAH. Interventions are necessary to reduce fatigue, and should consider exercise training as a potential contributor to a multimodal treatment, preventing debilitating conditions after a-SAH.