High HbA1c levels levels at admission tied to chronic fatigue after acute ischemic stroke: Study and post-stroke fatigue

A recent study conducted at the Suining Central Hospital, China uncovered a significant connection between blood sugar levels and Chronic Post-Stroke Fatigue (PSF), a prevalent and persistent complication among the ischemic stroke survivors. The key findings of this study was published in the recent edition of Experimental Gerontology journal.

This study focused on a total of 559 patients who experienced their first Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS) and the importance of monitoring serum glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in stroke patients. Over a six-month period following the stroke onset, patients were assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) to measure fatigue symptoms. This study marks the first of its kind to investigate the relationship between HbA1c and PSF.

The results revealed a sharp correlation between the elevated HbA1c levels and the occurrence of PSF. Also, patients who reported PSF expressed significantly higher levels of HbA1c when compared to those without PSF. A non-linear dose-response relationship was observed, indicating that higher HbA1c levels at admission were independently associated with a greater risk of chronic PSF.

The study highlights the pivotal role of glycemic management in reducing the risk of chronic PSF among the stroke survivors. Healthcare providers can potentially improve the quality of life for stroke patients by closely monitoring HbA1c levels and implementing long-term strategies to regulate blood sugar.

While this research reaffirmed the significance of HbA1c as a stable predictor of chronic PSF, it also observed variability in the correlation between blood glucose levels and fatigue symptoms. While a linear positive correlation was observed between PSF and discharge blood glucose levels, no significant correlation was found for blood glucose levels upon admission.

Reference:

Ouyang, Q., Xu, L., Zhang, Y., Huang, L., Du, Y., & Yu, M. (2024). Relationship between glycated hemoglobin levels at admission and chronic post-stroke fatigue in patients with acute ischemic stroke. In Experimental Gerontology (Vol. 188, p. 112395). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2024.112395