Effect of a Simple Exercise Program on Hospitalization-Associated Disability in Older Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectiveHospitalization-associated disability [HAD, ie, the loss of ability to perform ≥1 basic activities of daily living (ADLs) independently at discharge] is a frequent condition among older patients. The present study assessed whether a simple inpatient exercise program decreases HAD incidence in acutely hospitalized very old patients.DesignIn this randomized controlled trial (Activity in Geriatric Acute Care) participants were assigned to a control or intervention group and were assessed at baseline, admission, discharge, and 3 months thereafter.Setting and ParticipantsIn total, 268 patients (mean age 88 years, range 75–102) admitted to an acute care for older patients unit of a public hospital were randomized to a control (n = 125) or intervention (exercise) group (n = 143).MethodsBoth groups received usual care, and patients in the intervention group also performed simple supervised exercises (walking and rising from a chair, for a total duration of ∼20 minutes/day). We measured ADL function (Katz index) and incident HAD at discharge and after 3 months (primary outcome) and Short Physical Performance Battery, ambulatory capacity, number of falls, rehospitalization, and death during a 3-month follow-up (secondary outcomes).ResultsMedian duration of hospitalization was 7 days (interquartile range 4 days). The intervention group had a lower risk of HAD with reference to both baseline [odds ratio (OR) 0.36; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.17–0.76, P = .007] and admission (OR 0.29; 95% CI 0.10–0.89, P = .030). A trend toward an improved ADL function at discharge vs admission was found in the intervention group compared with controls (OR 0.32; 95% CI ‒0.04 to 0.68; P = .083). No between-group differences were noted for the other endpoints (all P > .05).Conclusion and ImplicationsA simple inpatient exercise program decreases risk of HAD in acutely hospitalized, very old patients.     

Simeprevir added to peginterferon and ribavirin lessens time with fatigue,depressive symptoms and functional limitations in patients with chronic hepatitis C compared with peginterferon and ribavirin: results from 1161 patients in the QUEST‐1, QUEST‐2 and PROMISE studies

The value of adding simeprevir (SMV) vs placebo (PBO) to peginterferon and ribavirin (PR) for treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection was examined using patient‐reported outcomes (PROs); further, concordance of PROs with virology endpoints and adverse events (AEs) was explored. Patients (n = 768 SMV/PR, n = 393 PBO/PR) rated fatigue (FSS), depressive symptoms (CES‐D) and functional impairment (WPAI: Hepatitis C Productivity, Daily Activity and Absenteeism) at baseline and throughout treatment in three randomised, double‐blind trials comparing the addition of SMV or PBO during initial 12 weeks of PR. PR was administered for 48 weeks (PBO group) and 24/48 weeks (SMV group) using a response‐guided therapy (RGT) approach. Mean PRO scores (except Absenteeism) worsened from baseline to Week 4 to the same extent in both groups but reverted after Week 24 for SMV/PR and only after Week 48 for PBO/PR. Accordingly, there was a significantly lower area under the curve (baseline–Week 60, AUC₆₀) and fewer weeks with clinically important worsening of scores in the SMV/PR group at any time point. Incidences of patients with fatigue and anaemia AEs were similar in both groups, but FSS scores showed that clinically important increases in fatigue lasted a mean of 6.9 weeks longer with PBO/PR (P < 0.001). PRO score subgroup analysis indicated better outcomes for patients who met the criteria for RGT or achieved sustained virological response 12 weeks post‐treatment (SVR12); differences in mean PRO scores associated with fibrosis level were only observed with PBO/PR. Greater efficacy of SMV/PR enabled reduced treatment duration and reduced time with PR‐related AEs without adding to AE severity.     

Tester and testing procedure influence clinically determined gait speed

BackgroundThere is a clinical need to be able to reliably detect meaningful changes (0.1 to 0.2 m/s) in usual gait speed (UGS) considering reduced gait speed is associated with morbidity and mortality.Research questionWhat is the impact of tester on UGS assessment, and the influence of test repetition (trial 1 vs. 2), timing method (manual stopwatch vs. automated timing), and starting condition (stationary vs. dynamic start) on the ability to detect changes in UGS and fast gait speed (FGS)?MethodsUGS and FGS was assessed in 725 participants on a 8-m course with infrared timing gates positioned at 0, 2, 4 and 6 m. Testing was performed by one of 13 testers trained by a single researcher. Time to walk 4-m from a stationary start (i.e. from 0-m to 4-m) was measured manually using a stopwatch and automatically via the timing gates at 0-m and 4-m. Time taken to walk 4-m with a dynamic start was measured during the same trial by recording the time to walk between the timing gates at 2-m and 6-m (i.e. after 2-m acceleration).ResultsTesters differed for UGS measured using manual vs. automated timing (p = 0.02), with five and two testers recording slower and faster UGS using manual timing, respectively. 95% limits of agreement for trial 1 vs. 2, manual vs. automated timing, and dynamic vs. stationary start ranged from ±0.15 m/s to ±0.20 m/s, coinciding with the range for a clinically meaningful change. Limits of agreement for FGS were larger ranging from ±0.26 m/s to ±0.35 m/s.SignificanceRepeat testing of UGS should performed by the same tester or using an automated timing method to control for tester effects. Test protocol should remain constant both between and within participants as protocol deviations may result in detection of an artificial clinically meaningful change.     

补阳还五汤加伸筋草治疗脑梗死后痉挛型偏瘫疗效研究

目的:探讨补阳还五汤重用伸筋草治疗脑梗死后痉挛型偏瘫的作用。方法:收集脑梗死后痉挛型偏瘫患者共88例,分为两组,对照组44例,西医治疗加康复训练和补阳还五汤治疗; 研究组44例,西医治疗加康复训练及补阳还五汤重用伸筋草治疗。比较治疗前后患者患侧上下肢肌张力、临床疗效、NIHSS、日常生活能力Barthel指数以及上下肢运动功能和不良反应发生率。结果:治疗后,两组患者患侧上下肢肌张力≤1级者占比均升高,且研究组中≤1级者占比均高于对照组,组间比较有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组临床疗效等级分布和总有效率比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后两组患者NIHSS评分均降低,且研究组NIHSS评分低于对照组,治疗后两组患者Barthel指数和患侧上下肢FMA评分均升高,且研究组均高于对照组,组间比较有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组不良反应发生率比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:补阳还五汤重用伸筋草能够显著降低患者患侧上下肢肌张力,改善临床疗效和神经功能缺损,提高患者日常生活能力和患侧运动功能,且安全性良好。     

2015—2017年解放军总医院抗震颤麻痹药物的使用情况分析

目的 了解解放军总医院抗震颤麻痹药物的应用情况与用药趋势。方法 采用世界卫生组织（WHO）推荐的以限定日剂量（DDD）为指标的分析方法，对2015-2017年解放军总医院抗震颤麻痹药物的销售金额、用药频度（DDDs）、日均费用（DDC）及排序比（B/A）等进行统计分析。结果 普拉克索、多巴丝肼和恩他卡朋的用药金额始终处于前3位，普拉克索的用药金额逐渐上升，卡比多巴/左旋多巴的用药金额逐渐下降；DDDs排序列前2位的是多巴丝肼和司来吉兰，多巴丝肼的DDDs逐年上升，一直处于第1位；2015-2016年各种抗震颤麻痹药物的DDC较为稳定，2016-2017年各种抗震颤麻痹药物的DDC开始略有下降；除普拉克索和恩他卡朋的B/A始终小于1.00，其他抗震颤麻痹药物的B/A均在1.00以上波动。结论 解放军总医院抗震颤麻痹药物的使用较为合理，其中多巴丝肼、普拉克索和司来吉兰具有很好的市场前景。     

Children’s participative citizenship within the context of integral care and daily life

The concept of participation was reviewed as a component of children's citizenship in order to promote a programme for Integral Development. A narrative revision of the literature was carried out as well as a group discussion was organized along with the staff of an Integral Care Programme, in order to identify notions of democracy and child citizenship related to care and rearing. Some elements that favoured the child participation and some parenting skills were identified. Among the elements that must be encouraged in children are: the development of emotional, cognitive and communicative skills and promotion of decision-making; among the parent skills development included are: sensitivity and responsivity; establishing routines and participation experiences. It is important to stand out that the identified elements to promote child participation and parental competences should be adapted to every specific cultural context.     

八段锦对视神经脊髓炎谱系疾病恢复情况的研究

[目的]评估规律性八段锦运动对视神经脊髓炎谱系疾病患者残疾状态及日常生活能力恢复情况的影响。[方法]选取视神经脊髓炎谱系疾病患者58例,随机分成试验组和对照组,每组29例,分别给予常规药物治疗+基础训练+八段锦干预、常规药物治疗+基础训练,疗程12周。比较两组扩展残疾状态量表(EDSS)评分、Barthel指数、Ashworth评分和疲劳严重度量表(FSS)评分的变化情况。[结果]试验组中,患者的EDSS评分、Barthel指数、Ashworth评分和FSS评分较干预前明显改善,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);与对照组比较,EDSS评分和Barthel指数改善具有统计学意义(P0.05)。对照组中,患者Barthel指数、Ashworth评分和FSS评分较干预前明显改善(P0.05)。两组这4项指标的改善程度比较中,与对照组比较,试验组在EDSS评分、Barthel指数、Ashworth评分和FSS评分的改善程度更明显(P0.05)。[结论]规律的八段锦干预能明显改善视神经脊髓炎谱系疾病患者残疾状态、日常生活能力、肢体痉挛程度和疲劳状态,适合临床推广应用。