A NEW study has found that more than half of patients diagnosed with a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) continue to experience significant fatigue for up to a year after their initial event, challenging the common assumption that TIA leaves no lasting symptoms beyond 24 hours. Conducted at a specialised stroke unit, the prospective cohort study followed 354 patients over a 12-month period, with 287 providing baseline responses.
Fatigue levels were assessed using two validated tools—the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20) and the Fatigue Severity Scale, at four key time points: 14 days, and 3, 6, and 12 months after discharge. The results revealed that 61.3% of patients reported pathologic fatigue at 14 days, with over half continuing to report fatigue throughout the 12-month follow-up period. Mean fatigue levels showed only a slight decline over time, indicating a persistent and potentially debilitating issue for many patients.
Interestingly, the study found no significant link between the presence of acute infarction and fatigue. However, previous diagnoses of anxiety or depression were twice as common in those who reported fatigue, suggesting a strong psychological component. A regression model that included baseline fatigue levels, sex, age, and infarction status performed significantly better at predicting fatigue at 12 months than one excluding baseline fatigue (p < 0.001).
These findings suggest that fatigue following TIA is both common and enduring, with early symptoms likely to persist for a year or more. The absence of a correlation with acute brain lesions highlights the importance of psychological and functional factors. Recognising and addressing early fatigue in TIA patients—particularly those with a history of anxiety or depression—could play a critical role in improving long-term outcomes and quality of life. The study underscores the need for tailored, evidence-based support for patients recovering from TIA.
Reference
Ebbesen BH, et al. Long-term fatigue following transient ischemic attack: a prospective cohort study. Neurology. 2025;104(11):e213605.
