Differences In Functional Status Research Articles

Treatment of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and multiple aneurysms: concurrent versus delayed treatment

Objective8 to 30% of patients who present with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) have multiple intracranial aneurysms (MIA). Although prompt treatment to secure ruptured aneurysms (RA) is standard of care, there is no clear consensus regarding whether incidental unruptured aneurysms (UA) should be treated during the same procedural time as the RA. This study aims to examine the effect of treatment of UA during the same procedural time as treatment for the RA (concurrent treatment) versus delaying the treatment of an UA after discharging the patient (delayed treatment). MethodsThis is a retrospective review of the medical records of patients with the diagnosis of aSAH and MIA admitted to a single neurocritical care unit between 2013 to 2021, and who underwent treatment of at least 1 aneurysm during the index hospitalization. Data was divided in 2 groups: concurrent treatment (2 or more aneurysms treated), and delayed treatment (1 aneurysm treated). Clinical and radiological data including demographic characteristics, modified Fisher Scale (mFS), treatment modality (clipping or endovascular), ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) rates, surgical/procedural complications, delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), length of stay (LOS), modified Rankin Score (mRS) and type of insurance of the patients during the hospitalization were collected. ResultsWe identified 109 patients with aSAH and MIA, who fit criteria. The median age was 58 (48-67) years old. 91 were female (83.5%). A total of 287 aneurysms were found, 109 were ruptured. 64 patients underwent treatment of a single aneurysm (delayed treatment group), and 45 patients underwent treatment of 2 or more aneurysms (concurrent treatment group). mFS were similar in both groups (p=.56). Clipping (52.3%) was the treatment modality most frequently used. No significant differences in surgical/procedural complications (p=.54) or VPS (p=.91) rates were seen among the 2 groups. No significant differences in delayed cerebral ischemia rates were seen (p=.85) There were no significant differences between the mRS at discharge (mRS 0-3v 4-6 (p=.78)), LOS in the ICU (12 vs 13 (p=.58) days) and LOS in the hospital (16 vs 14.5 (p=.95) days) between the delayed and concurrent treatment groups respectively. ConclusionsNo difference in functional status at discharge was observed between delayed treatment versus concurrent treatment. Treatment of most or all surgically amenable aneurysms, at the time when the RA is being treated, does not increase the risk of DCI or poor outcomes at discharge.

Gender Differences Regarding Palliative Care Consultation Among Persons Hospitalized With Heart Failure

ContextPalliative care is increasingly recognized as an important aspect of heart failure (HF) management, but data on gender differences regarding palliative care needs are scarce. ObjectiveWe retrospectively studied patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of HF who received an initial palliative care consultation in the Mount Sinai Health System to examine gender differences. MethodsFrom electronic health records, we extracted patient information, diagnostic codes, and the palliative care consult assessment which included the Karnofsky performance status (KPS) and the Edmonton symptom assessment scale (ESAS). The population was stratified according to self-identified gender. Unadjusted and adjusted generalized linear models were fitted to study the association of gender with KPS and ESAS scores. ResultsAmong 667 patients with HF who received a palliative care consultation, 327 (49.0%) were women. Women with HF were older than men and less likely to be married. As compared to men, women had worse functional status, were less likely to have capacity to designate a surrogate medical decision-maker, had a higher symptom burden and were more likely to experience severe symptoms at the time of initial palliative care consultation. Differences in functional status and symptom burden were particularly pronounced in young women and women identifying as Black or Hispanic. The association of gender with functional status and symptom burden remained statistically significant after adjusting for possible confounders. ConclusionAs compared to men, women with HF were more severely impaired at the time of palliative care consult, and dedicated efforts to better address their needs are warranted.

Pengaruh Citicoline terhadap Tingkat Keparahan dan Status Fungsional Pasien Stroke Iskemik

Background: Stroke is a cause of long-term mortality, morbidity, and disability. Neuroprotectors, such as citicoline, are a choice for patients not eligible for rTPA. This evidence-based case report aims to look at the association of citicoline with the severity and functional status of ischemic stroke. Method: The search is based on the database Scopus. A total of 191 studies were reviewed, and 3 articles were chosen for critical review: Ghosh, et al, (2015), Martynov, et al, (2013), and Mehta, et al, (2019). Results: Significant differences in functional status measured by the Barthel index and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and severity measured by the NIHSS. Conclusion: Citicoline has a significant effect on the functional status and severity of an ischemic stroke.

Primary cytoreductive surgery compared with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with BRCA mutated advanced high grade serous ovarian cancer: 10 year survival analysis

ObjectivesGiven the high response to platinum based chemotherapy in BRCA 1/2 mutated high grade serous ovarian cancers, there is uncertainty about the relative benefits of primary cytoreductive surgery versus neoadjuvant...

Predictors of achieving minimal clinically important difference in functional status for elderly patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis undergoing lumbar decompression and fusion surgery

ObjectiveTo identify the predictors for the achievement of minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in functional status among elderly patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS) undergoing lumbar decompression and fusion surgery.MethodsPatients who underwent lumbar surgery for DLSS and had a minimum of 1-year follow-up were included. The MCID achievement threshold for the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was set at 12.8. General patient information and the morphology of lumbar paraspinal muscles were evaluated using comparative analysis to identify influencing factors. Multiple regression models were employed to identify predictors associated with MCID achievement. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to determine the optimal cut-off values for predicting functional recovery.ResultsA total of 126 patients (46 males, 80 females; mean age 73.0 ± 5.9 years) were included. The overall rate of MCID achievement was 74.6%. Patients who achieved MCID had significantly higher psoas major muscle attenuation (43.55 vs. 39.23, p < 0.001) and preoperative ODI (51.5 vs. 41.6, p < 0.001). Logistic regression showed that elevated psoas major muscle attenuation (p = 0.001) and high preoperative ODI scores (p = 0.001) were independent MCID predictors. The optimal cut-off values for predicting MCID achievement were found to be 40.46 Hounsfield Units for psoas major muscle attenuation and 48.14% for preoperative ODI.ConclusionPreoperative psoas major muscle attenuation and preoperative ODI were reliable predictors of achieving MCID in geriatric patients undergoing lumbar decompression and fusion surgery. These findings offer valuable insights for predicting surgical outcomes and guiding clinical decision-making in elderly patients.

The Effect of Combination of Healthy Sleep Education and Music Therapy on the Functional Status of Children with Cancer

Introduction:Cancer refers to the uncontrolled growth and reproduction of abnormal cells in the body as a whole. Sufferers will experience physical and psychological disorders in the form of feelings of sadness and depression, which cause a loss of ability to live daily life. The prevalence of cancer patients on chemotherapy at Dr. M. Djamil Padang Hospital has increased from 135 in 2019 to 170 in 2020 (21% increase). The side effects of chemotherapy are sleep disturbances, fatigue, and decreased functional status. Objective:This study aims to determine the effect of the combination of providing healthy sleep education and music therapy on the functional status of children with cancer to minimize the side effects of chemotherapy. Methods:The research design was a quasi-experimental pre-post-test with the control group. The sample consisted of 60 children, who were divided into a control group (n = 30) and an intervention group (n = 30). Three consecutive days were devoted to the intervention. Measurement of functional status scores using the Activity Daily Living Barthel Index questionnaire. Differences in functional status scores of each group were tested with a dependentT-test, and differences in functional status between the control and intervention groups were tested with independent T-tests used in this study. Results:The results of statistical tests showed that there was a significant difference in the mean score of functional status before and after giving sleep education and music therapy between the intervention group and the control group (p= 0.0005). Conclusion:Combining healthy sleep therapy and music therapy can be an option for independent nursing care for children with cancer as a way to combat the side effects of chemotherapy

Balloon- vs Self-Expanding Transcatheter Valves for Failed Small Surgical Aortic Bioprostheses: 1-Year Results of the LYTEN Trial

BackgroundData comparing valve systems in the valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement (ViV-TAVR) field have been obtained from retrospective studies. ObjectivesThe authors sought to compare the 1-year hemodynamic performance and clinical outcomes between balloon-expandable valves (BEV) SAPIEN 3/ULTRA (Edwards Lifesciences) and self-expanding valves (SEV) Evolut R/PRO/PRO+ (Medtronic) in ViV-TAVR. MethodsPatients with a failed small (≤23 mm) surgical valve undergoing ViV-TAVR were randomized to receive a SEV or a BEV. Patients had a clinical and valve hemodynamic (Doppler echocardiography) evaluation at 1-year follow-up. Study outcomes were defined according to VARC-2/VARC-3 criteria. Intended performance of the valve was defined as mean gradient <20 mm Hg, peak velocity <3 m/s, Doppler velocity index ≥0.25 and less than moderate AR. ResultsA total of 98 patients underwent ViV-TAVR (46 BEV, 52 SEV). At 1-year follow-up, patients receiving a SEV had a lower mean transaortic gradient (22 ± 8 mm Hg BEV vs 14 ± 7 mm Hg SEV; P < 0.001), and a higher rate of intended valve performance (BEV: 30%, SEV:76%; P < 0.001). There were no cases of greater than mild aortic regurgitation. There were no differences in functional status (NYHA functional class >II, BEV: 7.3%, SEV: 4.1%; P = 0.505) or quality of life (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire, BEV: 77.9 ± 21.2, SEV: 81.8 ± 14.8; P = 0.334). No differences in all-cause mortality (BEV: 6.5%, SEV: 3.8; P = 0.495), heart failure hospitalization (BEV: 6.5%, SEV: 1.9%; P = 0.214), stroke (BEV: 0%, SEV: 1.9%; P = 0.369), myocardial infarction (BEV: 0%, SEV: 1.9%; P = 0.347), or pacemaker implantation (BEV: 2.2%, SEV: 1.9%; P = 0.898) were found. ConclusionsIn patients who underwent ViV-TAVR for failed small aortic bioprostheses, those receiving a SEV exhibited a better valve hemodynamic profile at 1-year follow-up. There were no differences between SEV and BEV regarding functional status, quality of life, or clinical outcomes.

P441 Difference in functional status and quality of life outcomes in a cohort of siblings with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease children – a prospective study

P441 Difference in functional status and quality of life outcomes in a cohort of siblings with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease children – a prospective study

Managing Age-Related Disability in Indonesia: An Issue That Extends Beyond the Concept of Active Aging

ABSTRACT This study evaluates how various village services help older Indonesians perform daily activities and reduce age-related disability. Individual-level data from the 2020 National Socio-Economic Survey (SUSENAS) (N = 121,961 older people) and community-level data from the 2018 Village Potential Data Census Collection (PODES) (N = 83,931 villages in a data aggregation across 514 municipalities) were used in a multilevel binary logistic regression model. The interclass coefficient correlation (ICC) was calculated to determine the variation in characteristics across 514 municipalities to explain the differences in functional status. The ICC was approximately 16.2%, indicating that creating an age-friendly environment would help to delay the onset of disability. Older populations in Indonesia have a high percentage of informal employment, a low educational level, low percentages of affluent households, and few leisure activities. The findings highlight that the development of age-friendly services in the village should consider employment status and leisure activities. Participation in employment is a well-acknowledged concept for promoting active aging in developed nations but is secondary in managing age-related disability in Indonesia. The municipal government must develop an aging-friendly community (AFC) to create a supportive environment to meet the basic health and social needs of older people with age-related disability.

Therapeutic review: The role of tranexamic acid in management of traumatic brain injury, nontraumatic intracranial hemorrhage, and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time. To summarize current literature evaluating tranexamic acid in the management of intracranial bleeding associated with traumatic and nontraumatic brain injuries and implications for clinical practice. Intracranial hemorrhage, regardless of etiology, is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Tranexamic acid is an antifibrinolytic with anti-inflammatory properties shown to reduce mortality in trauma patients with extracranial injuries. In traumatic brain injury, a large randomized trial found no difference in outcomes when tranexamic acid was compared to placebo; however, subgroup analyses suggested that it may reduce head injury-related mortality in the context of mild-to-moderate injury if treatment occurs within 1 hour of symptom onset. More recent out-of-hospital data have disputed these findings and even suggested harm in severely injured patients. In spontaneous, nontraumatic intracranial hemorrhage, treatment with tranexamic acid did not result in a difference in functional status; however, rates of hematoma expansion, even though modest, were significantly reduced. In aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, tranexamic acid may prevent rebleeding, but has not led to improved outcomes or reduced mortality, and there is concern for increased incidence of delayed cerebral ischemia. Overall, tranexamic acid has not been shown to result in increased risk of thromboembolic complications across these classes of brain injury. Despite its favorable safety profile overall, tranexamic acid does not seem to improve functional outcomes and cannot be routinely recommended. More data are needed to determine which head injury subpopulations are most likely to benefit from tranexamic acid and which patients are at increased risk for harm.

Abstract P5-07-05: Improving Health-Related Quality of Life with Outpatient High-Dose Methotrexate Regimen Among Solid Tumor Oncology Patients with Intracranial Metastases: A Qualitative Study

Abstract Introduction: Breast cancer patients with intracranial (IC) metastases including leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) confer poor prognosis. Upon disease progression with standard lines of therapy, high-dose intravenous methotrexate (HD IV MTX) is offered to patients given its effective CNS penetrance. HD IV MTX is commonly administered inpatient, requiring extended hospitalization, rigorous leucovorin rescue, IV hydration, and urine alkalinization. Currently, quality of life (QoL) aspects of inpatient v. outpatient regimens remain unknown. Methods: An outpatient MTX protocol with daily visits to outpatient infusion centers was institutionally developed. Study eligibility criteria included solid tumor diagnoses with IC±LM metastasis, disease progression on standard of care treatment, and transition from inpatient to outpatient regimen within the past 12 months. For eligible patients upon consent, qualitative semi-structured phone interviews were conducted with focus on physical functioning and symptom burden. Thematic analysis was utilized. Results: Of the 10 patients who were screened, three (breast=2, sarcoma=1) were eligible. Patient demographics included 2 Caucasians, 1 African American, mean age of 52 years, and s/p prior whole brain radiation. Among QoL measures, no differences in functional status were reported between the two regimens. Single sarcoma patient reported less nausea and emesis with the outpatient regimen. All patients agreed on convenience, autonomy, greater personal and family time, and stronger emotional support while undergoing the outpatient protocol. Despite honorable mentions of inpatient onsite staff and services, all patients reported higher QoL experienced with outpatient MTX protocol vs. inpatient. Conclusions: Interview analysis determined that patient autonomy and nonobligatory hospitalization are key outpatient MTX treatment hallmarks that greatly enhanced patient QoL. Despite the small preliminary patient pool, this study delineates the feasibility in development of an institutionalized patient-centered outpatient MTX protocol. Future clinical trials will additionally be dedicated in conducting a cost-effective analysis comparing both MTX regimens. Citation Format: Heun Min, Elizabeth Weil, Maggie Nelson, John Charlson, Meghan Conroy, Miracle Powell, Yee Chung Cheng, Lubna N. Chaudhary, John Burfeind, Janet Retseck, Deepika Sriram, Sailaja Kamaraju. Improving Health-Related Quality of Life with Outpatient High-Dose Methotrexate Regimen Among Solid Tumor Oncology Patients with Intracranial Metastases: A Qualitative Study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-07-05.

Clinical Outcomes After Viewing Video Education on Danger Signs and Symptoms of Worsening Heart Failure and Self-care Actions

Background Patients with heart failure (HF) must understand subtle escalation in fatigue, dyspnea, and edema before they are triggered to control worsening status. Objective The aim of this paper is to examine if video education of HF danger signs or symptoms recognition and control, developed using symbolic modeling (social cognitive theory), leads to between-group differences in functional status, symptoms, and self-efficacy for managing symptoms at 30-days, all-cause, and HF-related hospitalization, emergency department visits, and death at 30, 90, and 180 days. Methods Using a 2-group, randomized controlled, multicenter, single-blind design, patients received video education (VE) plus usual care (UC) or UC alone before hospital discharge. VE patients also had access to content post discharge. Thirty-day functional status, fatigue, dyspnea, and self-efficacy for managing symptoms were assessed using valid, reliable tools. In the analysis, multivariable models were created to compare changes in patient-reported outcomes from baseline to 30-days post discharge and morbidity or mortality outcomes up to 180 days. Results Of 369 VE and 377 UC patients enrolled from 7 sites, mean age was 68.0 (SD 12.4) years, and 206 (55.9%) were male. At 30 days, there were no between-group differences in the change in functional status, fatigue, dyspnea, and self-efficacy from baseline. In multivariable analyses, between-group outcomes did not differ at 30 or 90 days. At 180 days, HF-related events and HF-related hospitalization were higher in the video group—odds ratios (95% CI): 1.42 (1.04, 1.94), P=.03; and 1.44 (1.05, 1.97), P=.03, respectively. In time-to-event adjusted analyses, video patients had earlier HF-related hospitalization, compared to UC patients—hazard ratio (95% CI) 1.32 (1.02, 1.72), P=.04. Conclusions Video education on recognition and control of danger signs or symptoms paradoxically increased HF-related events and hospitalization and decreased time to first HF-related hospitalization. Increased recognition of subtle HF signs or symptoms via video education is valuable but must be connected to patient or family self-care actions that reduce HF signs or symptoms. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03657459; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03657459 Conflicts of Interest None declared.

Pain among older adults with gastrointestinal malignancies- results from the cancer and aging resilience evaluation (CARE) Registry.

The impact of pain on functional status and mental health among older adults with cancer is a relevant, yet understudied. We sought to identify the prevalence of pain at diagnosis in older adults with gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies and evaluate the association of pain with functional status limitations, cognition, and mental health. This prospective cross-sectional study included older adults (age ≥ 60) with GI cancers enrolled in the CARE Registry. Pain measured in numeric rating scale from 0 to 10. We utilized the literature based cutoff for moderate-severe as ≥ 4. Logistic regression used to assess differences in functional status, falls, cognitive complaints, and depression/anxiety associated with moderate/severe pain, adjusted for sex, race, education, ethnicity, marital status, cancer type/stage, and treatment phase. Our cohort included 714 older adults with an average mean age of 70years and 59% male. Common diagnoses included colorectal (27.9%) and pancreatic (18%). A total of 43.3% reported moderate/severe pain. After multivariate adjusting for covariates, participants with self-reported moderate/severe pain were more likely to report limitations in instrumental activities of daily living (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.3 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.1-6.1, p < .001), limitation in activities of daily living (aOR 3.2 95% CI 2.0-5.1, p < .001), cognitive complaints (aOR 2.9 95% CI 1.4-6.0, p < .004), anxiety (aOR 2.2 95% CI 1.4-3.4, p < 0.01), and depression (aOR 3.7 95% CI 2.2-6.5, p < .001). Pain is common among older adults with GI cancers and is associated with functional status limitations, cognitive complaints, and depression/anxiety. Strategies to reduce pain and minimize its potential impact on function and mental health warrant future research.

Intravenous Iron Isomaltoside for Patients With Iron Deficiency Undergoing Elective Surgery

&#x0D; The results of 1 randomized controlled trial did not find a difference in functional status (6-minute walk distance and New York Heart Association class), hand grip strength, or health-related quality of life for patients who underwent a transcatheter aortic valve implantation treated with iron isomaltoside versus placebo.&#x0D; There was 1 (1.4%) hypersensitivity reaction and 1 (1.4%) episode of chest pain in patients treated with iron isomaltoside in the randomized controlled trial. Rates of other adverse events were similar between patients treated with iron isomaltoside and placebo.&#x0D;

Measurement properties of the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 for evaluating functional status after inpatient surgery.

Expert recommendations propose the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0 as a core outcome measure in surgical studies, yet data on its long-term measurement properties remain limited. These were evaluated in a secondary analysis of the Measurement of Exercise Tolerance before Surgery (METS) prospective cohort. Participants were adults (40 years of age or older) who underwent inpatient non-cardiac surgery. The 12-item WHODAS and EQ-5DTM-3L questionnaires were administered preoperatively (in person) and 1 year postoperatively (by telephone). Responsiveness was characterized using standardized response means (SRMs) and correlation coefficients between change scores. Construct validity was evaluated using correlation coefficients between 1-year scores and comparisons of WHODAS scores across clinically relevant subgroups. The analysis included 546 patients. There was moderate correlation between changes in WHODAS and various EQ-5DTM subscales. The strongest correlation was between changes in WHODAS and changes in the functional domains of the EQ-5D-3L-for example, mobility (Spearman's rho 0.40, 95 per cent confidence interval [c.i.] 0.32 to 0.48) and usual activities (rho 0.45, 95 per cent c.i. 0.30 to 0.52). When compared across quartiles of EQ-5D index change, median WHODAS scores followed expected patterns of change. In subgroups with expected functional status changes, the WHODAS SRMs ranged from 'small' to 'large' in the expected directions of change. At 1 year, the WHODAS demonstrated convergence with the EQ-5D-3L functional domains, and good discrimination between patients with expected differences in functional status. The WHODAS questionnaire has construct validity and responsiveness as a measure of functional status at 1 year after major surgery.

Worsening functional status in nephrogeriatrics needs to be accounted for when clinically assessing CKD advancement in addition to GFR; supporting evidence based on the practical application of theoretical modelling

The incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been found to increase with age. This has resulted in an increase in the number of elderly patients undergoing renal replacement therapy. There is a significant risk of error in making treatment decisions in patients with advanced CKD based solely on biochemical parameters of renal function, if the changes in the functional status of patients' health are not taken into account.AimTo determine the interrelated dependencies between chronic kidney disease with the functional status of patients aged over 65 years and to elucidate differences in functional status between CKD patients and controls.MethodsPatient subjects were qualified according to their assessed outcomes from the study protocol, which were achieved by: geriatric interview, assessing functional status by the IADL, Barthel and Tinetti tests together with assessing kidney function by performing laboratory tests of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), creatinine and urea. Subjects were divided into two groups: method 1—according to GFR and method 2—according to GFR and functional test results. The data were statistically analysed by structural equation modelling and k-means.ResultsPositive relationships were found between the CKD stage and comorbidity (β = 0.55, p < 0.01), along with the number of medications taken and age (respectively β = 0.19, p = 0.001 and β = 0.30, p < 0.001). A highly negative relationship was observed between the CKD stage and the Tinetti test results (β = -0.71, p < 0.001), whilst more moderate ones were found with the IADL and Barthel scores (respectively β = -0.49, p < 0.001 and β = -0.40, p < 0.001). The patient groups demonstrated differences in health status when selected by method-2 for: age, comorbidity, number of medications taken, fitness test outcomes (Tinetti, Barthel and IADL tests at p < 0.005). Those groups divided according to GFR, however only showed differences in age, comorbidity and the number of medication taken (p < 0.005).ConclusionsThe functional status worsens in geriatric patients suffering from CKD. It may thus be important to also account for disruptions to functional status when assessing CKD advancement in the elderly in addition to the GFR. The biggest problems for the over 80 s suffering from CKD are gait and balance disorders, leading to a high risk of falls. Another common problem is polypharmacy, found in both the geriatric population and particularly in those suffering from CKD.

Predictors of Functional Improvement, Length of Stay, and Discharge Destination in the Context of an Assess and Restore Program in Hospitalized Older Adults.

Assess and restore programs such as Humber’s Elderly Assess and Restore Team (HEART) provide short-term restorative care to prevent functional decline in hospitalized older adults. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to determine which HEART participant characteristics are predictive of functional improvement, decreased length of stay, return to home, and decreased readmission to hospital. Electronic health records were retrospectively examined to gather predictor data. Differences in functional status, excessive length of stay, discharge destination, and hospital readmissions were compared in 547 HEART patients and 547 matched eligible non-participants using ANOVAs, Mann–Whitney, and chi-square tests. The greatest functional improvements (percent Barthel change) were seen in those requiring a one-person assist (M = 39.56) and using a walker (M = 46.07). Difference in excessive length of stay between HEART and non-HEART participants was greatest in those who used a walker (Mdn = 3.80), required a one-person assist (Mdn = 2.00), had a high falls risk (Mdn = 1.80), and had either a lower urinary tract infection (Mdn = 2.25) or pneumonia (Mdn = 1.70). Predictor variables did not affect readmission to the hospital nor return to home. Predictive characteristics should be considered when enrolling patients to assess and restore programs for optimal clinical outcomes.

Innovating Care in Multiple Sclerosis: Feasibility of Synchronous Internet-Based Teleconsultation for Longitudinal Clinical Monitoring.

The ‘coronavirus disease of 2019’ crisis has recently forced an expedited adoption of teleconsultation (TC) in most medical domains. Short-term digital interventions have generally been associated with feasibility, clinical benefits, user satisfaction, and cost-effectiveness in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) but outcomes after repeated utilization over extended periods need to be further evaluated. In this feasibility study, 60 subjects with MS were 1:1 randomized to receive standard care augmented by four TCs using an audiovisual Internet platform (intervention) versus standard care alone (controls), over a period of 12 months. Effects on functional status, medical costs, and satisfaction were explored as secondary outcomes. Eighty-nine out of 108 scheduled TCs (82.4%) were completed, and 26 patients could complete at least one TC (86.7%), meeting our prespecified feasibility target of 80%. The intervention did not lead to significant differences in functional status (with the potential exception of fatigue) nor medical costs. Most interventional patients declared themselves to be (very) satisfied about the quality of care and technical aspects associated with the TCs. Our results demonstrate that longitudinal clinical monitoring using real-time audiovisual TC over the Internet is feasible and well-received by patients with MS. Such an approach can be a promising new care strategy.

Functional impairment associated with increased severity of mental health disorders in Latin American chronic hemodialysis patients

Background: End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) and associated complications are related with increased prevalence of psychological disorders. There is a growing trend of elderly and high comorbid individuals beginning chronic Hemodialysis Programs (HD) while there is limited knowledge about the influence of functional impairment and comorbidity burden in the prevalence of mental health disorders and life satisfaction on HD population. The purposes of this study were to report the local prevalence of psychological disorders, life satisfaction and self-reported health status as well to describe differences in functional status and comorbidity burden scores between patients with moderate/severe psychological disorders and those none/mild alterations of a Latin American chronic HD cohort. Methods: Transversal uni-center study in 139 Ecuadorian chronic and stable HD patients. Once patients were eligible to participate six tests were applied to explore functional status (Barthel Index and PPS score), depression, anxiety and stress prevalence (DASS-21 scale) comorbidity burden (Charlson Index), self-rated health state (EQ-5D/VAS) and satisfaction with life (SWLS score) Exclusion criteria were: Time in HD less than 6 months, recent hospitalization (less than 3 months) and severe cognitive impairment. Continuous symmetric variables were described as mean ± standard deviation or median and interquartile range if asymmetric. T-test was used for symmetric continuous variables, U-Mann-Whitney if asymmetric and chi-square for qualitative variables. Results: A total of 79 (55%) patients were male. Mean time in HD was 73 ± 47 months, with mean age 56 ± 15,7 years. Prevalence of moderate/severe mental health disorders were: depression (28%), anxiety (37%) and stress (34%). Moderate/severe depressed patients scored significatively lower in Barthel Index (p=0.048) and those with moderate/severe stress scored significatively lower in Barthel Index (p=0.025) and PPS score (p=0.030). Time in HD > 92 months was significatively related with moderate severe/anxiety (0.044). Unsatisfaction with life was found in 20% of patients and it was significatively related with lower functional Barthel Index (p=0.017) and PPS score (p=0.041) when compared with those satisfied with life. Patients with self-rated health status <70% on EQ-5D VAS scored significatively lower in Barthel Index (p=0.022) and PPS score (0.003) vs those with ≥70% score. No differences were found with age, CKD etiology, civil and laboral status. Conclusions: Prevalence of mental health disorders is similar to other series reported. Patients with moderate/severe depression, stress, unsatisfaction with life, and low self-reported health state had worst functional status than those with none/mild alterations. Time in HD over 7.6 years was associated with higher intensity of anxiety.

Hospital-at-Home Interventions vs In-Hospital Stay for Patients With Chronic Disease Who Present to the Emergency Department

Hospitalizations are costly and may lead to adverse events; hospital-at-home interventions could be a substitute for in-hospital stays, particularly for patients with chronic diseases who use health services more than other patients. Despite showing promising results, heterogeneity in past systematic reviews remains high. To systematically review and assess the association between patient outcomes and hospital-at-home interventions as a substitute for in-hospital stay for community-dwelling patients with a chronic disease who present to the emergency department and are offered at least 1 home visit from a nurse and/or physician. Databases were searched from date of inception to March 4, 2019. The databases were Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Ovid PsycINFO, CINAHL, Health Technology Assessment, the Cochrane Library, OVID Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Randomized clinical trials in which the experimental group received hospital-at-home interventions and the control group received the usual in-hospital care. Patients were 18 years or older with a chronic disease who presented to the emergency department and received home visits from a nurse or physician. Risk of bias was assessed, and a meta-analysis was conducted for outcomes that were reported by at least 2 studies using comparable measures. Risk ratios (RRs) were reported for binary outcomes and mean differences for continuous outcomes. Narrative synthesis was performed for other outcomes. Outcomes of interest were patient outcomes, which included mortality, long-term care admission, readmission, length of treatment, out-of-pocket costs, depression and anxiety, quality of life, patient satisfaction, caregiver stress, cognitive status, nutrition, morbidity due to hospitalization, functional status, and neurological deficits. Nine studies were included, providing data on 959 participants (median age, 71.0 years [interquartile range, 70.0-79.9 years]; 613 men [63.9%]; 346 women [36.1%]). Mortality did not differ between the hospital-at-home and the in-hospital care groups (RR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.61-1.15; I2 = 0%). Risk of readmission was lower (RR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.57-0.95; I2 = 31%) and length of treatment was longer in the hospital-at-home group than in the in-hospital group (mean difference, 5.45 days; 95% CI, 1.91-8.97 days; I2 = 87%). In addition, the hospital-at-home group had a lower risk of long-term care admission than the in-hospital care group (RR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.03-0.74; I2 = 0%). Patients who received hospital-at-home interventions had lower depression and anxiety than those who remained in-hospital, but there was no difference in functional status. Other patient outcomes showed mixed results. The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that hospital-at-home interventions represent a viable substitute to an in-hospital stay for patients with chronic diseases who present to the emergency department and who have at least 1 visit from a nurse or physician. Although the heterogeneity of the findings remained high for some outcomes, particularly for length of treatment, the heterogeneity of this study was comparable to that of past reviews and further explored.