Kinesiophobia in Elderly Polish Patients After Ischemic Stroke, Including Frailty Syndrome

Abstract

Introduction In patients after stroke, the relationship between the occurrence of kinesiophobia and the accompanying frailty syndrome, as well as the acceptance of the disease and the level of mood, has not been recognized so far. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of kinesiophobia in elderly Polish people after ischemic stroke, including the frailty syndrome and the associations between the prevalence of kinesiophobia and feelings of anxiety and degree of the illness acceptance. Methods A cross-sectional study was used to achieve the study objectives. The study involved 152 hospitalized patients aged of minimum 60 (mean age 63), qualified for post-stroke rehabilitation, including 76 women and 76 men. The patients were divided into two groups, with kinesiophobia (119 persons) and without kinesiophobia (33 persons). The Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI), the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) and the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) were used. Study results were calculated using MedCalc Software. Results Kinesiophobia has been demonstrated in 78% of people after ischemic stroke. The values of TFI and HADS were higher in the patients with kinesiophobia (p<0.001). In patients with ischemic stroke, it was shown that the level of kinesiophobia increased with higher anxiety (p<0.001), higher total TFI score, (p<0.05), and a lower level of illness acceptance (p<0.001). Conclusion The occurrence of kinesiophobia in elderly Polish people after ischemic stroke is common and the determinants of its development are the coexistence of the frailty syndrome, anxiety and a low level of illness acceptance. In post-stroke patients, the presence of kinesiophobia should be considered, especially in the situation of comorbid frailty syndrome. The issue of kinesiophobia in patients after stroke requires further in-depth research, especially in the field of cognitive-behavioral prevention aimed at ways to reduce this phenomenon.

A scientometric analysis and visualization of kinesiophobia research from 2002 to 2022: A review

“…The results showed that 128 people (66.67%) had severe kinesiophobia, and the incidence of kinesiophobia in stroke patients was close to 80%. In addition, Bąk et al [ 61 ] conducted a cross-sectional study of 152 elderly patients with ischemic stroke in Poland, reporting that kinesiophobia was present in 78% of the patients. Sertel et al [ 62 ] found that the balance score and fall efficacy score of stroke patients were negatively correlated with the severity of kinesiophobia.…”

Bifidobacterium bifidum supplementation improves ischemic stroke outcomes in elderly patients: A retrospective study

“…However, these approaches fall short in addressing the intricate pathophysiology involving systemic inflammatory responses and neurodegeneration. [ 4 , 5 ] As is well-established, a bidirectional interplay exists between the brain, the gastrointestinal tract, and the gut microbiota. The communication network linking the brain and the gut is termed the gut-brain axis (GBA), with interactions therein capable of influencing overall health and emotional states.…”