Variation In Functional Outcomes Research Articles

Impact of Medical and Neurologic Complications on the Outcome of Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in a Middle-Income Country

Almost two thirds of the world's aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) are in low- and middle-income countries. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the impact of complications on the outcome of aSAH in a middle-income country. Baseline data (age, sex, World Federation of Neurosurgical Society, time ictus-treatment, treatment modality) and medical and neurologic complications from a cohort in Brazil (2016-2019) were evaluated: delayed cerebral ischemia; hydrocephalus; meningitis; seizures; intracranial hypertension; infections (pneumonia, bloodstream, urinary tract infection infection of undetermined source); sodium disturbances; acute kidney injury; and cardiac and pulmonary complications. The primary outcome was the modified Rankin scale (mRS) at hospital discharge. Univariate and multivariate models were employed. From 212 patients (71.7% female, age 52.7 ± 12.8), 92% developed at least 1 complication (any infection-43.9%, hydrocephalus-34.4%, intracranial hypertension-33%, infection of undetermined source-20.8%, hypernatremia-20.8%, hyponatremia-19.8%, delayed cerebral ischemia-related infarction-18.7%, pneumonia-18.4%, acute kidney injury-16.5%, and seizures-11.8%). In unadjusted analysis, all but hyponatremia and urinary tract infection were associated with mRS 3-6 at discharge; however, complications explained only 12% of the variation in functional outcome (mRS). Most patients were treated by clipping (66.5%), and 15.6% (33 patients) did not receive a definitive treatment. The median time ictus-admission and ictus-treatment were 5 and 9 days, respectively. While medical and neurologic complications are a recognized opportunity to improve aSAH care, low- and middle-income countries comprise 70% of the world population and still encounter difficulties concerning early definitive aneurysm treatment, rebleeding, and human and material resources.

Differences between centers in functional outcome of patients with ADHD after 1 year from the time of diagnosis

Although the pharmacological therapy of ADHD has been widely studied, little has been done to compare the different therapeutic approaches (e.g., drug therapy vs. psychological treatments) and even less has been done to compare the outcome of the therapy between centers. This multicenter observational study aims to assess between-center variation in functional outcome of ADHD patients one year after the diagnosis, according to the treatment received. We used the Regional ADHD Registry data on 1429 patients enrolled in 16 ADHD centers in the 2011–2022 period. To evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy we used a generalized linear mixed model with the center as the random effect, including patient condition at diagnosis and center characteristics, weighting by the inverse of the propensity score of the treatment received by the patient. Between-center variation was expressed as the relative difference in odds-ratios between the observed and the expected number of patients whose condition improved, using the Clinical Global Impressions—Improvement Scale (CGI-I), and the relative 95% CI. Patients who received combined treatment were significantly more likely to improve compared to other treatment groups (65.5% vs 54.4% for methylphenidate alone, 53.4% for psychological treatment alone, or 40.5% for no therapy). Adjusted for patients and center characteristics, the log-odds ratio ranged from 0.85 (0.29–1.55 95% CI) to − 0.64 (− 1.17–− 0.18 95% CI). The mean expected probability of improvement after one year of therapy for an average patient with ADHD for each center was 47.7% in a center at the 25th percentile and 61.2% in a center at the 75th percentile of the outcome distribution after adjustments. The wide between-center variation in patient functional improvement one year after the diagnosis of ADHD could be largely explained by center-specific therapeutic approaches or attitudes. More careful and stringent work is needed to reduce differences in responses between centers, as could formal and periodic audit programs within and between centers.

Six-month outcomes and patterns of recovery for people with lateropulsion following stroke

Purpose This study investigated the (1) six-month outcomes of individuals with lateropulsion; (2) the relationship between baseline measures (from in-patient hospitalisation) and six-month functional abilities; and (3) recovery patterns for lateropulsion in stroke survivors. Materials and methods Forty-one individuals with lateropulsion participated in this study. Measures of lateropulsion, postural function, and weight-bearing asymmetry in standing were taken initially and fortnightly over eight weeks. Functional independence and walking abilities were assessed at six months post-stroke. Results Compared to individuals with moderate to severe lateropulsion, those with mild lateropulsion achieved higher levels of functional outcome at six months. However, there were a wide range of scores. Baseline lateropulsion severity explained 26% of the variation in functional outcome. A stronger correlation with functional outcome was observed for lateropulsion (−0.526) than function independence at baseline (0.384). For the task of standing with arm support, patterns of asymmetry were divergent at baseline, favouring either the paretic or non-paretic leg. Over the eight-week period, asymmetry moved towards the non-paretic leg and lateropulsion reduced consistently. Conclusions Individuals with lateropulsion can recover from lateropulsion and make meaningful functional gains, including some individuals with more severe lateropulsion. Lateropulsion severity is a key indicator of functional outcome post-stroke. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Individuals with lateropulsion can make significant gains in terms of mobility and functional abilities by six months post-stroke, learning to compensate for their verticality impairment in standing by loading their non-paretic leg. It is important that stroke survivors with lateropulsion, including those with moderate and severe lateropulsion, are provided with adequate rehabilitation to optimise their longer-term mobility and functional abilities. Routine screening of acute stroke survivors for lateropulsion is recommended, given lateropulsion may negatively impact longer-term functional outcomes in stroke survivors. Therapists should carefully analyse the weight-bearing pattern which an individual with lateropulsion adopts in standing and subsequently tailor treatment to target this.

Between-Center Variation in Outcome After Endovascular Treatment of Acute Stroke: Analysis of Two Nationwide Registries.

Insight in differences in patient outcomes between endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) centers can help to improve stroke care. We assessed between-center variation in functional outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke who were treated with EVT. We analyzed to what extent this variation may be explained by modifiable center characteristics. We used nationwide registry data of patients with stroke treated with EVT in the Netherlands and in the Czech Republic. Primary outcome was modified Rankin Scale score at 90 days as an indicator of disability. We used multilevel ordinal logistic regression to quantify the between-center variation in outcomes and the impact of patient and center characteristics. Between-center variation was expressed as the relative difference in odds of a more favorable modified Rankin Scale score between a relatively better performing center (75th percentile) and a relatively worse performing center (25th percentile). We included a total of 4518 patients treated in 33 centers. Adjusted for patient characteristics, the odds of a more favorable outcome in a center at the 75th percentile of the outcome distribution were 1.46 times higher (95% CI, 1.31-1.70) than the odds in a center at the 25th percentile. Adjustment for center characteristics, including the median time between stroke onset and reperfusion per center, decreased this relative difference in odds to 1.30 (95% CI, 1.18-1.50, P=0.01). This translates into an absolute difference in likelihood of good functional outcome of 8% after adjustment for patient characteristics and to 5% after further adjustment for modifiable center characteristics. The considerable between-center variation in patient outcomes after EVT for acute ischemic stroke could be largely explained by center-specific characteristics, such as time to reperfusion. Improvement of these parameters may likely result in a decrease in center-specific differences, and an overall improvement in outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Sources of hospital-level variation in functional outcome after acute ischemic stroke: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Functional recovery is an important clinical outcome for patients with stroke. Hospital-level variation occurs in functional outcome after stroke. However, the extent to which patient characteristics, hospital characteristics, process of care, and medication persistence contribute to the hospital variation in poor functional outcome after ischemic stroke is unknown in China. We retrospectively analyzed patients enrolled in the Third China National Stroke Registry from 2015 to 2018. The outcome was poor functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score of 3-6) at 3 months and 1 year. We used the median odds ratio to quantify the hospital-level variation in rates of poor functional outcome. A series of hierarchical logistic models were constructed to assess the extent to which patient characteristics, hospital characteristics, process of care, and medication persistence contributed to the hospital variation. A total of 13,218 patients with acute ischemic stroke from 159 hospitals were included. The risk-adjusted rates of the poor functional outcome at 3 months and 1 year after ischemic stroke varied across hospitals, ranging from 6.0% to 26.0% and 6.8% to 24.0%, respectively. The median odds ratio was 1.78 at 3 months and 1.67 at 1 year. Hierarchical logistic models indicated that the patient characteristics, hospital characteristics, process of care, and the medication persistence explained 27.5%, 7.0%, 6.5%, and 5.0% of the variation at 1 year. Altogether, 36.8% and 46.1% of the hospital variation in 3-month and 1-year poor functional outcome, respectively, was explained. There was a wide variation in rates of functional outcomes across hospitals. Approximately half of the variation at 1 year can be explained by patient characteristics, hospital characteristics, process of care, and medication persistence. Approximately 11.5% of the variation can be modified through improvements in the process of care and medication persistence. More studies are needed to explore the contribution of post-discharge care in the future.

Abstract P43: The Importance of Medical Complications in Determining Outcomes After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Introduction: Despite their high prevalence, prospective data on medical complications after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) and their contribution to functional outcome are sparse. We review rates of such events and correlate them to functional outcomes in three prospective datasets of patients with aSAH. Methods: Patients from two clinical trials (NEWTON-2, CONSCIOUS-1) and one clinical registry (Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Outcomes Project) were included. A good functional outcome was defined as a Glasgow Outcomes Scale (GOS) score of 4 or 5. Seventeen medical complications were assessed and their association with functional outcomes was determined with multivariable logistic regression. The variance in outcome explained by medical complications was calculated using difference in Nagelkerke’s R-squared. Results: Among the 1,430 patients, the most common complications were fever (564, 39%), anemia (410, 29%), and pneumonia (341, 24%). Patients who suffered any complication (OR: 0.45; 95% CI: 0.36 to 0.57; p<0.001) were less likely to have a good functional outcome in unadjusted analyses. In multivariable analysis, complications independently associated with lower rates of good functional outcome were anemia (OR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.44 to 0.80; p<0.001), cardiac arrest (OR: 0.14; 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.37; p<0.001), pneumonia (OR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.35 to 0.66; p<0.001), pulmonary edema (OR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.45 to 0.99; p=0.047), and acute kidney injury (OR: 0.34; 95% CI: 0.12 to 0.98; p=0.047). A panel of eleven medical complications explained 8% of the variation in functional outcomes. Conclusions: Medical complications contribute to functional outcomes after aSAH, but their individual contributions to outcomes are relatively small. This should be noted when considering trials directed at preventing or treating any one complication and raises the question of studying comprehensive neurointensive care packages in the future.

Deiodinases, organic anion transporter polypeptide polymorphisms and ischemic stroke outcomes

BackgroundIschemic stroke is a major cause of premature death and chronic disability worldwide, and individual variation in functional outcome is strongly influenced by genetic factors. Neuroendocrine signaling by the hypothalamic−hypophyseal−thyroid axis is a critical regulator of post-stroke pathogenesis, suggesting that allelic variants in thyroid hormone (TH) signaling can influence stroke outcome.Aim: To examine associations between acute ischemic stroke (AIS) outcome and allelic variants of the TH metabolizing enzymes deiodinase type 1–3 (DIO1–3) and membrane transporting organic anion polypeptide C1 (OATP1C1). MethodsEligible AIS patients from Lithuania (n = 248) were genotyped for ten DIO1–3 and OATP1C1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): DIO1 rs12095080-A/G, rs11206244-C/T, and rs2235544-A/C; DIO2 rs225014-T/C and rs225015-G/A; DIO3 rs945006-T/G; OATP1C1 rs974453-G/A, rs10444412-T/C, rs10770704-C/T, and rs1515777-A/G. Functional outcome was evaluated one year after index AIS using the modified Rankin Scale. Analyses were adjusted for important confounders, including serum free triiodothyronine. ResultsAfter adjustment for potential confounders, the major allelic (wild-type) DIO3 genotype rs945006-TT was associated with better 1-year AIS functional outcome (odds ratio [OR] = 0.25; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.08–0.74; p = .013), while the wild-type OATP1C1 genotype rs10770704-CC was associated with poorer outcome (OR = 2.00, 95%CI: 1.04–3.86; p = .038). ConclusionAllelic variants in thyroid axis genes may prove useful for prognosis and treatment guidance.

Variability in functional outcome and treatment practices by treatment center after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: analysis of International Cardiac Arrest Registry.

Functional outcomes vary between centers after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and are partially explained by pre-existing health status and arrest characteristics, while the effects of in-hospital treatments on functional outcome are less understood. We examined variation in functional outcomes by center after adjusting for patient- and arrest-specific characteristics and evaluated how in-hospital management differs between high- and low-performing centers. Analysis of observational registry data within the International Cardiac Arrest Registry was used to perform a hierarchical model of center-specific risk standardized rates for good outcome, adjusted for demographics, pre-existing functional status, and arrest-related factors with treatment center as a random effect variable. We described the variability in treatments and diagnostic tests that may influence outcome at centers with adjusted rates significantly above and below registry average. A total of 3855 patients were admitted to an ICU following cardiac arrest with return of spontaneous circulation. The overall prevalence of good outcome was 11-63% among centers. After adjustment, center-specific risk standardized rates for good functional outcome ranged from 0.47 (0.37-0.58) to 0.20 (0.12-0.26). High-performing centers had faster time to goal temperature, were more likely to have goal temperature of 33°C, more likely to perform unconscious cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention, and had differing prognostication practices than low-performing centers. Center-specific differences in outcomes after OHCA after adjusting for patient-specific factors exist. This variation could partially be explained by in-hospital management differences. Future research should address the contribution of these factors to the differences in outcomes after resuscitation.

Regional variation in functional outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest across 47 prefectures in Japan

BackgroundAlthough prior work reported regional variation in survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), mechanisms of the variation have not been fully investigated. We sought to evaluate regional variation in favourable functional outcome after OHCA across 47 prefectures in Japan as our primary aim. We also evaluated the associations between favourable functional outcome and the numbers of basic life support (BLS) providers and public access automated external defibrillators (AEDs) within each prefecture as our secondary aim. MethodsUsing the All-Japan Utstein Registry, a nationwide prospective, population-based OHCA database, we identified 97,408 patients with OHCA of medical origin across 47 prefectures in 2014. Primary outcome was 1-month survival with favourable functional outcome, defined as Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) scale 1 or 2. We fitted multivariable hierarchical logistic regression models (patients nested within prefectures) to adjust for potential confounding factors at patient- and prefecture-level and clustering of patients within prefectures. We calculated median odds ratios (ORs) from the hierarchical models to quantify the outcome variation at prefecture-level. We also evaluated the associations between OHCA outcome and the numbers of BLS providers and public access AEDs within each prefecture, using the hierarchical models. ResultsA total of 2246 patients (2.3%) had 1-month survival with favourable functional outcome. The unadjusted rates of 1-month survival with favourable functional outcome in each prefecture ranged from 1.1% to 4.1% (median OR = 1.29; 95% credible interval, 1.20–1.40) and the adjusted rates varied from 0.9% to 3.5% (median OR = 1.34; 95% credible interval, 1.24–1.48). We observed no associations between 1-month survival with favourable functional outcome and the numbers of BLS providers (correlation coefficient = −0.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.50 to 0.04; p = 0.09) and public access AEDs (correlation coefficient = −0.27; 95% CI, −0.51 to 0.02; p = 0.07) within prefectures. ConclusionsWe found substantial regional variation in favourable functional outcome after OHCA of medical origin that was not explained by the numbers of BLS providers and public access AEDs within each prefecture.

Variation in Functional Status After Hip Fracture: Facility and Regional Influence on Mobility and Self-Care.

Recent reports show substantial geographic variation in postacute health care spending. Little is known about variation in functional outcomes after postacute rehabilitation for patients with hip fracture. We examined variation in mobility and self-care after hip fracture rehabilitation across inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), hospital referral regions (HRRs) and states. Retrospective cohort study using data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) from 2006 to 2009. Study sample included 149,258 records from patients 66 years and older at 1,166 IRFs located within 292 HRRs and across 50 states. Hip fracture cases were defined by CMS impairment group codes (08.11, 08.12). Hierarchical generalized linear models were used to assess discharge mobility and self-care functional status, adjusting for individual patient characteristics and the random effect of IRFs, HRRs, and states. Variation in discharge mobility status as assessed by the intraclass correlation percentage (ICC%) was 8.8% across IRFs, 4.0% across HRRs, and 1.8% across states. For self-care, the ICCs were 10.2% across IRFs, 4.8% across HRRs, and 2.4% across states. The range of discharge mobility scores (maximum functional status rating to minimum functional status rating) showed a 9.6-point difference for IRFs, 6.5 for regions, and 2.6 for states. Range of discharge self-care scores were 13.1 for IRFs, 6.8 for HRRs, and 3.4 for states. Variation in functional status following postacute hip fracture rehabilitation appears to occur primarily at the level of facilities rather than geographic location.

Treatment of Parkinson's disease using cell transplantation.

The clinical trials with intrastriatal transplantation of human fetal mesencephalic tissue, rich in dopaminergic neurons, in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients show that cell replacement can work and in some cases induce major, long-lasting improvement. However, owing to poor tissue availability, this approach can only be applied in very few patients, and standardization is difficult, leading to wide variation in functional outcome. Stem cells and reprogrammed cells could potentially be used to produce dopaminergic neurons for transplantation. Importantly, dopaminergic neurons of the correct substantia nigra phenotype can now be generated from human embryonic stem cells in large numbers and standardized preparations, and will soon be ready for application in patients. Also, human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons are being considered for clinical translation. Available data justify moving forward in a responsible way with these dopaminergic neurons, which should be tested, using optimal patient selection, cell preparation and transplantation procedures, in controlled clinical studies.

The role of emotional health in functional outcomes after orthopaedic surgery: extending the biopsychosocial model to orthopaedics: AOA critical issues.

Orthopaedic surgery successfully restores physical function and relieves pain in millions of Americans each year. In fact, orthopaedic surgery to treat arthritis of the knee and hip and lumbar spine conditions is among the top five surgical procedures by cost and volume in the United States. Despite the overwhelming success of orthopaedic procedures, functional improvement after surgery varies widely. Poor functional outcomes have been correlated with poor emotional health, such as anxiety, depression, poor coping skills, and poor social support1,2. The variation in functional outcomes exists despite state-of-the-art surgical techniques and is independent of postoperative complications. Furthermore, suboptimal functional outcomes associated with poor emotional health have been reported in a variety of orthopaedic specialties, including spine surgery, trauma care and/or fracture repair, rotator cuff repair, sports-related surgery (e.g., anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] reconstruction), total hip replacement, total knee replacement, and hand and upper extremities surgery. It is well established that the emotional health of the patient influences the outcome of many common orthopaedic surgeries.

Understanding Variation in the Quality of the Surgical Treatment of Prostate Cancer

More than 80% of men with prostate cancer undergo active treatment, which can be associated with significant morbidity. Outcomes of surgical treatment vary widely depending on who treated the patient and where the patient was treated, implying that there is room for improvement. Factors influencing outcomes include patient characteristics as well as some measure of procedure volume. Although relationships between volume and outcomes for prostatectomy can most likely be explained by differences between surgeons (e.g., experience, technical skill), the hospital environment (e.g., team communication, safety culture) has the potential to either amplify or dampen the effects. Although most patient factors are immutable, these other aspects of surgical care and the delivery environment provide opportunities for quality improvement. Collaborative quality improvement initiatives may prove to be an important vehicle for achieving better prostate cancer care. These grass roots organizations, driven largely by urologists dedicated to providing prostate cancer care, have had initial successes in improving some aspects of quality in prostate cancer care, including reducing unwarranted use of imaging and perioperative morbidity. However, much of the variation in functional outcomes after prostate cancer surgery arises from differences in technical skill. Evaluating and improving intraoperative surgeon performance will inevitably be challenging, as they require acquisition and interpretation of data collected in the operating room. To this end, several methods have been described to objectively assess what happens in the operating room.

Understanding Variation in the Quality of the Surgical Treatment of Prostate Cancer

More than 80% of men with prostate cancer undergo active treatment, which can be associated with significant morbidity. Outcomes of surgical treatment vary widely depending on who treated the patient and where the patient was treated, implying that there is room for improvement. Factors influencing outcomes include patient characteristics as well as some measure of procedure volume. Although relationships between volume and outcomes for prostatectomy can most likely be explained by differences between surgeons (e.g., experience, technical skill), the hospital environment (e.g., team communication, safety culture) has the potential to either amplify or dampen the effects. Although most patient factors are immutable, these other aspects of surgical care and the delivery environment provide opportunities for quality improvement. Collaborative quality improvement initiatives may prove to be an important vehicle for achieving better prostate cancer care. These grass roots organizations, driven largely by urologists dedicated to providing prostate cancer care, have had initial successes in improving some aspects of quality in prostate cancer care, including reducing unwarranted use of imaging and perioperative morbidity. However, much of the variation in functional outcomes after prostate cancer surgery arises from differences in technical skill. Evaluating and improving intraoperative surgeon performance will inevitably be challenging, as they require acquisition and interpretation of data collected in the operating room. To this end, several methods have been described to objectively assess what happens in the operating room.

Heterogeneity in Hip Fracture Patients: Age, Functional Status, and Comorbidity

To examine unidentified heterogeneity in hip fracture patients that may predict variation in functional outcomes. Observational, longitudinal, multisite cohort study. Three separate cohorts from five hospitals in the metropolitan New York area and eight hospitals in Baltimore. Two thousand six hundred ninety-two hip fracture patients treated at one of 13 hospitals and followed for 6 months postfracture. A mobility measure with three categories (independent (walks independently or with a device), limited independence (needs human assistance or supervision to walk 150 feet or one block or able only to walk indoors), and unable to walk) was developed for use with all three cohorts. A similar measure was developed for the other activities of daily living (ADLs): bathing, dressing, feeding, and using the toilet. Cluster analysis was used to form homogenous groups of patients based on baseline demographic characteristics, comorbid conditions, and baseline mobility and ADL independence. Seven homogeneous subgroups were identified based on prefracture age, health, and functional status, with measurably different 6-month functional outcomes. At least 90% of patients could be correctly classified into the seven groups using simple decision rules about age, ADLs, and dementia status at baseline. Dementia was the only comorbid condition that segmented the groups. The heterogeneous hip fracture population can be grouped into homogenous patient clusters based on prefracture characteristics. Differentially targeting services and interventions to these subgroups may improve functional status outcomes.

Effect of Age on Functional Outcomes After Stroke Rehabilitation

The incidence of stroke and the demand for stroke rehabilitation services continues to increase, and it has been proposed that age be used in combination with severity of stroke to determine type of rehabilitation. It is important to identify the impact of age on functional outcome before embracing a system that limits access to rehabilitation on the basis of age. This prospective study includes all patients admitted to an inpatient stroke rehabilitation program for 6 years. Demographic and clinical data were extracted by means of chart review. Functional status at admission and discharge was evaluated by means of the FIM instrument. Multivariate regression techniques were used to assess the relationships between age, functional outcome, and other predictive variables. Particular attention was paid to the r(2) values to assess the amount of variation accounted for by the predictors. Age alone was a significant predictor of total FIM score and Motor FIM score at discharge, but not FIM change. For both total FIM score and Motor FIM score at discharge, age alone accounted for only 3% of the variation in outcome. For all the models, age explained at the most 1.3% of the variation in functional outcome after adjustment for other factors, such as admission FIM score. The small amount of variation that can be explained by age alone and the questionable clinical relevance of such a small effect suggest that there is no justification to deny patients access to rehabilitation solely because of advanced age.