Table 2 Symptom occurrence rates, severity, distress and symptom burden ratings for symptoms in stroke patients (n = 656).

From: Differences in symptom clusters based on multidimensional symptom experience and symptom burden in stroke patients

Symptomsa

Incidence Ratesb

Occurrence Ratingsc

Severity Ratingsd

Distress Ratingse

Symptom Burden Ratingsf

n(%)

Mean ± SD

Rank Order

Mean ± SD

Rank Order

Mean ± SD

Rank Order

Mean ± SD

Rank Order

Limb weakness

563(85.8)

2.82 ± 1.361

1

2.14 ± 0.270

1

2.51 ± 1.331

1

2.82 ± 1.361

1

Decreased self-care ability

500(76.2)

2.38 ± 1.519

2

1.98 ± 1.408

2

2.22 ± 1.496

2

2.38 ± 1.519

2

Fatigue

492(75.0)

2.15 ± 1.447

4

1.85 ± 1.395

3

1.94 ± 1.401

4

2.15 ± 1.447

4

Limited limb movement

465(70.9)

2.34 ± 1.647

3

1.84 ± 1.446

4

2.09 ± 1.547

3

2.34 ± 1.647

3

Inability to maintain body balance

402(61.3)

2.00 ± 1.717

5

1.66 ± 1.547

5

1.82 ± 1.641

5

2.00 ± 1.717

5

Memory decline

397(60.5)

1.70 ± 1.497

8

1.42 ± 1.406

8

1.51 ± 1.405

8

1.70 ± 1.497

8

Decreased limb sensation

363(55.3)

1.71 ± 1.667

7

1.47 ± 1.519

7

1.52 ± 1.562

7

1.71 ± 1.667

7

Troubled by not being able to do what you want

354(54.0)

1.41 ± 1.432

10

1.23 ± 1.333

9

1.31 ± 1.396

10

1.41 ± 1.432

10

Limb uncoordinated

352(53.7)

1.73 ± 1.714

6

1.47 ± 1.576

6

1.58 ± 1.634

6

1.73 ± 1.714

6

Slurred speech

312(47.6)

1.50 ± 1.701

9

1.14 ± 1.378

10

1.40 ± 1.605

9

1.50 ± 1.701

9

Unhappy

309(47.1)

1.21 ± 1.378

13

1.05 ± 1.272

12

1.17 ± 1.373

11

1.21 ± 1.378

12

Slowed reaction

304(46.3)

1.26 ± 1.462

12

1.05 ± 1.310

13

1.08 ± 1.305

14

1.26 ± 1.462

13

Easily anxious

294(44.8)

1.32 ± 1.563

11

1.13 ± 1.423

11

1.08 ± 1.319

13

1.32 ± 1.563

11

Lack of initiative

289(44.1)

1.17 ± 1.416

14

0.99 ± 1.260

14

1.09 ± 1.345

12

1.17 ± 1.416

14

Attention decline

267(40.7)

1.10 ± 1.419

15

0.96 ± 1.314

15

1.00 ± 1.333

15

1.10 ± 1.419

15

No interest in surrounding activities

247(37.7)

0.96 ± 1.322

16

0.88 ± 1.247

16

0.95 ± 1.317

16

0.96 ± 1.322

16

Choking cough

221(33.7)

0.89 ± 1.345

17

0.82 ± 1.307

17

0.92 ± 1.395

17

0.89 ± 1.345

17

Disappointed with the future

199(30.3)

0.78 ± 1.252

18

0.73 ± 1.202

18

0.76 ± 1.246

18

0.78 ± 1.252

18

Limb pain

137(20.9)

0.58 ± 1.209

19

0.51 ± 1.091

19

0.55 ± 1.171

19

0.58 ± 1.209

19

Shoulder pain

79(12.0)

0.32 ± 0.937

20

0.30 ± 0.889

20

0.31 ± 0.915

20

0.32 ± 0.937

20

Upper limb flexion

50(7.6)

0.21 ± 0.792

21

0.17 ± 0.645

21

0.18 ± 0.664

21

0.21 ± 0.792

21

Foot drop

35(5.3)

0.15 ± 0.701

22

0.12 ± 0.531

22

0.14 ± 0.638

22

0.15 ± 0.701

22

Varus

23(3.5)

0.09 ± 0.477

23

0.06 ± 0.373

23

0.07 ± 0.430

23

0.09 ± 0.477

23

  1. SD standard deviation.
  2. aSymptoms with an incidence rate of less than 20% or greater than 80%, including limb weakness, shoulder pain, upper limb flexion, foot drop, and varus, do not meet our criteria for inclusion in the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA).
  3. bSymptoms are listed in descending order of occurrence;
  4. Incidence Rates: The number of cases for a specific symptom divided by the total sample size.
  5. cOccurrence Ratings: 1 = rarely, 2 = sometimes, 3 = often, 4 = almost always.
  6. dSeverity ratings: 1 = slight, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe, 4 = very severe.
  7. eDistress ratings: 0 = not at all, 1 = a little bit, 2 = somewhat, 3 = quite a bit, 4 = very much.
  8. fThe average scores across the three dimensions of occurrence, severity, and distress reflect the patient’s symptom burden for that particular symptom, while the mean symptom burden across all 23 symptoms represents the patient’s overall symptom burden level.
  9. Symptom Burden Ratings = the average score of the three dimensions (occurrence, severity, and distress) / 23.
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