Predictors of Subjective Cognitive Complaint in Postacute Older Adult Stroke Patients

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the impact of objective cognitive impairment, negative affect, and fatigue on cognitive complaint in a postacute (mean=6.64±1.32mo) sample of patients with ischemic stroke.Design: Cross-sectional study.Setting: Specialized stroke units at major metropolitan hospitals.Participants: Patients with first-ever ischemic stroke (N=25) aged between 50 and 85 years with relatively good neurologic recovery (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score ≤7) during the postacute period. Participants were excluded from the study if there was a documented history of psychiatric illness, neurologic disease, dementia, or a moderate or severe aphasia.Interventions: Not applicable.Main Outcome Measures: Cognitive complaint as measured by the A-B Neuropsychological Assessment Schedule.Results: Ninety percent of the patients reported some level of cognitive difficulty in everyday life. Fatigue, cognitive slowing, memory difficulties, and poor concentration were the most frequently reported complaints. More than half of all participants had significant impairment in at least 1 cognitive domain after their stroke. A standard multiple regression was performed to evaluate the relative impact of negative affect, fatigue, and objective cognitive functioning on subjective cognitive complaint. This model accounted for 61% of the variance in total subjective cognitive complaint (R=.78, F3,21=10.96, P
Source: Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation - Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research