Quality of life in rectal cancer patients: a four-year prospective study

OBJECTIVE: To assess long-term quality of life in a population-based sample of rectal cancer patients. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Quality of life in rectal cancer patients who suffer reduced bowel and sexual function is very important. Few studies, however, have long term follow-up data or sufficient sample sizes for reliable comparisons between operation groups. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 4-year prospective study of rectal cancer patients' quality of life was assessed by using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-30 and CR38 questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 329 patients returned questionnaires. Overall, anterior resection patients had better quality of life scores than abdominoperineal extirpation patients. High-anterior resection patients had significantly better scores than both low-anterior resection and abdominoperineal extirpation patients. Low-anterior resection patients, however, overall had a better quality of life than abdominoperineal extirpation patients, especially after 4 years. Abdominoperineal extirpation patients' quality of life scores did not improve over time. Stoma patients had significantly worse quality of life scores than nonstoma patients. Quality of life improved greatly for patients whose stoma was reversed. CONCLUSIONS: Anterior resection and nonstoma patients, despite suffering micturition and defecation problems, had better quality of life scores than abdominoperineal extirpation and stoma patients. Comparisons between abdominoperineal extirpation and anterior resection patients should consider the effect of temporary stomas. Improvements in quality of life scores over time may be explained by reversal of temporary stomas or physiologic adaptation.     

Risk factors associated with the occurrence of hip fracture in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective observational cohort study

Summary

Risk factors associated with the occurrence of hip fracture in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were evaluated in a prospective, observational cohort study. Physical disability, advanced age, history of total knee replacement (TKR), and low body mass index (BMI) appear to be associated with the occurrence of hip fracture.

Introduction

This study seeks to evaluate the association between potential risk factors and the occurrence of hip fractures in Japanese RA patients.

Methods

A total of 9,720 patients (82.1 % female; mean age, 55.7 years) with RA were enrolled in a prospective observational study from 2000 to 2010. Self-reported hip fractures were verified using patient medical records. Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze independent contributions of various risk factors to hip fracture occurrence.

Results

During a mean follow-up of 5.2 years, 152 patients reported 152 hip fractures. Among these patients, 97 hip fractures in 97 patients (15 males, 82 females) were verified with medical records. Japanese version of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (J-HAQ) disability score [per 1 score, hazard ratio (HR), 2.64; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.94–3.58], age (per 10 years; HR, 1.53; 95 % CI, 1.25–1.87), history of TKR (HR, 3.75; 95 % CI, 1.57–8.96), and BMI (per 1 kg/m², HR, 0.92; 95 % CI, 0.86–0.99) were significantly associated with hip fractures. Among the scores on the eight domains of the J-HAQ, J-HAQ (arising) (HR, 1.74; 95 % CI, 1.28–2.36) and J-HAQ (hygiene) (HR, 1.58; 95 % CI, 1.11–2.24) were significantly correlated with the occurrence of hip fracture.

Conclusions

High J-HAQ disability score, advanced age, history of TKR, and low BMI appear to be associated with the occurrence of hip fractures in Japanese RA patients. Among the eight domains of the J-HAQ, arising and hygiene disabilities appear to be correlated with the occurrence of hip fractures in this patient population.     

Functional outcome and quality of life following hip fracture in elderly women: a prospective controlled study

The aim of this prospective study was to document the functional outcome and quality of life (QoL) over 1 year following hip fracture in elderly women. A total of 159 unselected elderly women with a first hip fracture were matched for age and residence with an equal number of control women. Functional status was measured by completing a Rapid Disability Rating Scale version 2 (RDRS-2) questionnaire [score ranging from 0 (best) to 54 (worse)], before hospital discharge and 12 months later. To examine longitudinal change in health-related QoL, fracture subjects and controls completed the Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire. For the 134 women still alive at 1 year, the mean RDRS-2 score before hospital discharge was 16.2 (95% CI: 15.0–18.0) and 3.5 (2.6–4.3) in patients and controls, respectively (P<0.001). During the year following hospital discharge, the mean RDRS-2 score improved to 13.0 (11.1–14.1) in hip-fracture women and worsened to 4.3 (3.3–5.0) in the control group (differences with initial scores: P<0.001 in both groups). After adjustment for potential confounders (including age and comorbidity), the estimated functional decline attributable to a hip fracture was 24% in the first year. Poor functional status upon discharge was the strongest predictor of a poor functional status at 1 year. Overall, similar trends were observed when using SF-36 scores as compared with RDRS-2 scores. However, only 51% of the study population was able to complete the SF-36 questionnaire at discharge and after 1 year, and these subjects were considerably younger (P<0.001), had less cognitive impairment (P<0.001), and had better functional status (P<0.001) than those who were unable to complete the SF-36. For those women able to complete the SF-36 questionnaires, the mean SF-36 score before hospital discharge was 56.4 (95% CI: 51.9–60.9) and 71.1 (67.5–74.8) in patients and controls, respectively (P<0.001). During the year following hospital discharge, the mean SF-36 score improved significantly to 61.1 (56.5–65.7) in hip-fracture patients (P=0.03), but remained unchanged in the control group (P=0.23). Overall, the results of this study indicate that women who sustain a hip fracture continue to suffer from substantial functional impairment and loss in QoL at 1 year, despite a significant recovery during this 12-month period. Function upon hospital discharge is the strongest predictor of functional status 1 year later. Assessing QoL in hip fracture women through self-administered questionnaires is subject to considerable bias due to non-response.The authors represent the Belgian Hip Fracture Study Group, the full membership of which comprises the following investigators: P. Autier, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy, and Center for Research in Epidemiology and Health Information Systems Luxemburg, Grand Duchy of Luxemburg; J.M. Baillon, Department of Orthopedics, Ixelles-Etterbeek Hospital, Brussels, Belgium; M. Barette, Unit of Epidemiology and Prevention of Cancer, Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels, Belgium; J. Bentin, Service of Rheumatology, Louis Cathy Hospital, Baudourt, Belgium; S. Boonen, Leuven University Center for Metabolic Bone Diseases and Division of Geriatric Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; R. Bouillon, Leuven University Center for Metabolic Bone Diseases and Division of Endocrinology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; P. Broos, Leuven University Center for Metabolic Bone Diseases and Division of Traumatology and Emergency Surgery, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; M.C. Closon, Interdisciplinary Center in Health Economics, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium; A.R. Grivegnée, Unit of Epidemiology and Prevention of Cancer, Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels, Belgium; P. Haentjens, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; P. Opdecam, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; D. Vanderschueren, Leuven University Center for Metabolic Bone Diseases and Division of Endocrinology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.     

Clinical characteristics and risk factors of postoperative pneumonia after hip fracture surgery: a prospective cohort study

Summary

In this study, we attempt to determine the clinical characteristic and risk factors of postoperative pneumonia (POP) after hip fracture surgery in a well-defined hip fracture cohort. We find that intrinsic factors as well as major clinical interventions were all important risk factors of POP.

Introduction

Postoperative pneumonia (POP) is one of the major complications following hip fractures surgery. However, the risk factors of POP are not well studied in hip fracture cohorts. We attempt to determine the clinical characteristic and risk factors of POP after hip fracture surgery in a well-defined hip fracture cohort.

Methods

Datasets from a prospective hip fracture cohort study with a 2-year follow-up period, from 2000 to 2011, were reanalyzed for characteristics of POP. Multivariate Cox proportional regression was used to evaluate the association between the incidence of POP and all-cause mortality. Multivariate logistic regression was used to screen for potential risk factors of POP by analyzing demographic factors, comorbidities, major clinical interventions, and hematological parameters.

Results

In 1429 patients who underwent hip surgery, the incidence of POP was 4.9 % (n?=?70). All-cause mortality of patients with POP was significantly higher than that of patients without POP at 30 days (hazard ratio (HR) 3.05, 95 % confidence intervals (CI) 1.88–4.94), 1 year (HR 1.87, 95 % CI 1.41–2.48), and 2 years (HR 1.57, 95 % CI 1.23–1.99) postoperatively. Multivariate logistic regression showed that intrinsic factors (advanced age, anemia, diabetes, prior stroke, number of comorbidities, ASA score ≥III, and some laboratory biomarkers) as well as major clinical interventions were all significant risk factors for POP.

Conclusion

Intrinsic factors and major clinical interventions were all important risk factors of POP in patients after hip fracture surgery. Targeted preventive measures to mitigate the above risk factors may help in reducing the incidence of POP.

     

Efficacy of preoperative skin traction in hip fracture patients: a prospective, randomized study

OBJECTIVE: To compare the analgesic benefit of preoperative skin traction with the placement of a pillow under the injured extremity in patients with hip fractures. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized clinical study. SETTING: University-affiliated teaching institution. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: One hundred consecutive patients with hip fractures admitted to the authors' institution who met inclusion criteria were enrolled. Fifty-five patients had femoral neck fractures, and forty-five patients had intertrochanteric fractures. The average patient age was seventy-eight years. INTERVENTION: All patients were preoperatively randomized into two intervention groups. One group underwent placement of five pounds of skin traction on the injured extremity, whereas the second underwent placement of a pillow under the injured extremity. Fifty patients were enrolled in each intervention group. RESULTS: With respect to immediate postintervention pain levels, patients treated with a pillow showed a trend toward better pain relief, as compared with patients treated with skin traction; however, this was not statistically significant. On the morning after admission, patients treated with a pillow had a statistically significant greater reduction in pain (p = 0.04). These patients also requested a statistically significant lower amount of pain medication (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The authors think that preoperative skin traction in patients with hip fractures does not provide significant pain relief, as compared with pillow placement under the injured extremity, and thus should not be routinely performed in this patient population for analgesia.     

Quality of life outcomes in revision vs primary total hip arthroplasty: a prospective cohort study

This study included 143 patients who had revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) and 144 patients who had primary THA. The primary outcome variable in this study was the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores. Univariate and multivariate regression models were used to assess the relationship between surgical procedure and postoperative health related quality of life outcomes. The mean follow-up period was 1.7 years (range, 1-3 years). The mean preoperative function of patients with primary THA was significantly worse than that in the revision group (delta = -6.2; P = .013). Postoperative functional outcome was significantly better in patients with primary THA (delta = 6.5, P = .016) than in patients who had revision THA. The magnitude of improvement in quality of life is greater for the patient with primary THA in comparison to the patient with revision THA.     

Use of a unipedal standing test to assess the ambulation reacquisition time during the early postoperative stage after hip fracture in elderly Japanese: prospective study

Background  

The aim of this study was to predict the ambulation reacquisition time after hip fracture in elderly people using the unipedal standing test during the early postoperative stage.     

Mortality after low trauma hip fracture: a prospective cohort study

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Various risk of mortality due to hip fracture has been reported by different studies. There is scarce controlled study on hip fracture mortality from developing countries and no data from Middle East region. The objective of this study is to determine mortality and its risk factors one year after low trauma hip fracture. METHODS: One hundred and two patients after hip fracture not caused by high impact injuries or local bone diseases followed up prospectively for one year. Control group consisted of sex and age matched patients admitted to ophthalmology ward for eye surgery. Data about comorbidity obtained from both groups at baseline. Functional state and health-related quality of life for the participants were measured using RDRS-2 and SF-36 questionnaire, respectively. RESULTS: The overall survival was 83% in cases and 92% in controls (log rank test 3.62, df=1, P=0.057). Early mortality within the first 6 months of observation was significantly higher in patients than controls (13 in patients vs. 2 in controls) (log rank test 8.84, df=1, P=0.003). The risk of mortality was significantly and independently associated with age and baseline RDRS score. By the end of follow-up, in the patient group, 55.4% of survivors were able to walk without any assistance and 10.8% were not able to walk. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of mortality within the first 6 months of observation was significantly and independently associated with low trauma hip fracture. However, age and baseline RDRS score were independent predictors of mortality in the first year following hip fracture.     

Quality of life in patients operated on for digestive neoplasia: a prospective study

Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life in patients having surgery for a digestive neoplasm and to monitor how the patient’s perception evolves during the first 6 months after surgery. Method A prospective study was carried out on the pre and postoperative quality of life of patients undergoing surgery for a digestive system neoplasm between May 2009 and December 2010. Patients were asked to complete the Short Form (36) Health Survey questionnaire (SF‐36; spanish version 1.4). Results The study included 80 patients. At 1 month after surgery there was a statistically significant improvement in some domains of the SF‐36. At 6 months, a statistically significant improvement was seen in physical functioning, social functioning, mental health and in the two physical and mental domains. We also found statistically significant differences, with women having a worse quality of life. Conclusion Comparison of quality of life before and 6 months after surgical intervention showed improvement in both the psychological and the physical elements. This can be attributed to the fact that the patients have had time to recover from the surgery.     

Validity and responsiveness of the Oxford hip score in a prospective study with Japanese total hip arthroplasty patients

Background  With the increasing need for disease-specific health outcome measurements, the Oxford hip score was developed to measure health-related quality of life of total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients in the United Kingdom. The Oxford hip score comprises 12 items pertaining to pain and physical function, which are increasingly used to measure health outcomes of patients who have undergone THA. The purpose of this study was to establish the validity and responsiveness of the Oxford hip score in a prospective study of Japanese patients. Methods  The study was conducted at two hospitals. The eligibility criterion for the study was consenting adult patients who underwent primary unilateral THA between April 2005 and October 2007. Three scales were self-administered at the preoperative stage and 6 months after THA. These scales were the Oxford hip score, the Short Form-36 (SF-36) version 2, and three activities requiring deep flexion of the hip (i.e., clipping one’s toenails; use of a Japanese squat toilet; “seiza” — sitting on one’s legs on the floor, a common posture while eating in Japan. Results  A total of 224 consenting adult patients were recruited. Among them, 125 (61.9%) participated in pre- and postoperative surveys. Altogether, 108 (22 men, 86 women; mean age, 58.4 ± 12.5 years) of the 125 patients answered all the items. A significant improvement in the mean scores was observed in all scales. Correlation coefficients between the Oxford hip score and the SF-36 version 2 (physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain) ranged from 0.60 to 0.76 preoperatively and postoperatively. Effect size was 1.7 for pain and 1.3 for physical function. The effect size for seiza was small (0.3). Conclusions  This study demonstrated the validity and responsiveness of the Oxford hip score in a prospective study. However, it does not measure activities requiring deep flexion of the hip joint, and the use of additional items is suggested.     

Consequences of a hip fracture: A prospective study over 1 year

From a population of 230 000 residents, 1429 consecutive hip fracture patients were studied with regard to their social and physical functions both before sustaining the fracture and 1 year later. Changes in the patients' accommodation, need of help and walking aids were described. Using logistic regression we found important factors regarding the ability to return home, mortality within 1 year and length of hospital stay. The cost of a hip fracture over the time a patient is in hospital is, including the cost of an internal fixation, about US $6000. The total cost over 1 year is about US $26 000 per patient, including the operation.     

Functional results after treatment of hip fracture: a multicentre, prospective study in 215 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To find out which factors influence outcome after a fractured hip, so that the optimum treatment may be chosen for each patient. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: 3 teaching and 2 rural hospitals, The Netherlands. SUBJECTS: 215 patients aged 55-102 years (median 82) who presented with a fractured hip during 1994. INTERVENTIONS: Interviews shortly after the injury and 4 and 12 months later, study of radiographs, and evaluation of casenotes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mobility and functional recovery. RESULTS: 38 patients had died by the 4-month follow up, at which time 64/177 (36%) had regained the level of mobility that they had before the injury. At 12 months the figure was 58/148 (39%). The corresponding figures for functional recovery were 52/177 (29%) and 36/148 (24%). Factors that militated against recovery were increasing age, coexisting diseases, general complications and local complications. CONCLUSIONS: The chance of a patient with a hip fracture making any further recovery after 4 months is minimal. Local complications are the most important risk factor.     

Predictors of mortality after hip fracture: a 10-year prospective study

The role of medical, social, and functional covariates on mortality after hip fracture was examined over a 16-year period. A total of 1109 patients with hip fractures were included in a prospective database. The inclusion criteria were patients who were age 65 years or older, ambulatory prior to fracture, cognitively intact, living in their own home at the time of the fracture, and had sustained a nonpathological femoral neck or intertrochanteric chip fracture. Data were analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model. Mortality was compared with a standardized population, and standardized mortality ratios were calculated for 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 years,respectively. The 1-, 2-, 5- and 10-year mortality rates were 11.9%, 18.5%, 41.2%, and 75.3%, respectively. The predictors of mortality were advanced age, male gender, high American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)classification, the presence of a major postoperative complication, a history of cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, a history of congestive heart failure,ambulating with an assistive device, or being a household ambulator prior to hip fracture. The increased mortality risk was highest during the first year after hip fracture and returned to the risk of the standard population 3 years postoperatively. Males who are 65 to 84 years had the highest mortality risk.     

Post-discharge complications in postoperative patients with hip fracture

Hip fractures often occur in elderly people and are a major global health challenge causing many consequences, both in health and socioeconomic costs. This review aimed to identify complications that occur in patients with postoperative hip fracture between 30 days and 60 months after discharge. This review was conducted on articles published from 2005 to 2017 obtained from the EBSCO, PubMed, ProQuest and Google Scholar databases. The literature search followed PRISMA Guidelines. Key search words included the terms: hip fracture, complication, postoperative, community, and nursing. Articles were considered eligible if discussed the complications of hip fracture with surgical treatment, occurring post hospital discharge and the patient was in the community. In this review, 23 articles were included that met the inclusion criteria. There were 16 articles that cohort studies, 3 were retrospective studies, 3 were randomized control trials and 1 article was an observational study. The time of observation varied from 30 days to the longest of 5 years. Quality assessment of the levels of evidence used the Oxford CEBM recommendations. The review results found that postoperative hip fracture patients after discharge still experienced various complications after 30 days and up to 1–3 years post-operation.     

Functional outcome and survival after hip fracture in elderly: a prospective study of 106 consecutive patients

Abstract Hip fracture is one of the most common, costly, and devastating injuries suffered by elderly. We prospectively analysed the recovery of hip fracture patients in an area of 92 500 inhabitants comprising six municipalities (A-F). Ambulation, functional capacity and survival of 106 consecutive hip fracture patients whose mean age was 79 years (SD=10) were followed for one year. Functional capacity was measured at two weeks, four months and twelve months postoperatively. Locomotor ability was evaluated pre- and postoperatively. Life table method was used in survival analysis. There was a significant decrease in the mean functional capacity of the patients at twelve months compared to the situation prior to the fracture (p=0.001). Prior to the fracture, 59% of the patients were moving without any assistive devices, but one year after fracture only 19% were able to do this. Similarly, not one of the patients was confined to bed before the fracture, but 11% of those who were alive after one year had become bed-ridden (p<0.001). Overall mortality rate was 32%. Age <80 years (OR=7.3; 95% CI, 2.3–23.1), residence in municipalities A and B (OR=4.2; 95% CI, 1.4–12.4 ) and ASA classes 1–3 (OR=5.2; 95% CI, 1.8–15.4) were positive factors for one-year survival. Patients from municipalities A and B (49% of all patients) whose post-acute care was given in the same rehabilitation department of one hospital recovered best. The locomotor ability of the patients decreased significantly in the first postoperative year. It seems that the centralisation of post-acute rehabilitation improves the functional outcome of these patients.     

Operative delay for fracture of the hip: a two-centre prospective study

We undertook a simultaneous prospective two-centre study to examine why patients with fractures of the proximal femur experience a delay in undergoing surgery. At centre 1, 23 of 105 patients (22%) suffered an avoidable delay, 18 (78%) because of a lack of theatre capacity while at centre 2, 71 of 130 patients (55%) had an avoidable delay, with 54 (76%) because of this cause. Miscellaneous reasons such as poor ward management, co-existing medical conditions, and lack of equipment were responsible for the remainder of the delays. Without a substantial increase in operating capacity for acute trauma, it will not be possible to comply with guidelines which recommend surgical treatment within 24 hours in elderly and vulnerable patients.     

Quality of life after hip fracture surgery in the elderly

As the world population ages, the prevalence of osteoporosis and the incidence of hip fractures will increase dramatically, being responsible for an increase of the health expenditure. On the other hand, there is the inescapable fact of scarcity creating the necessity of making difficult choices with regard to the allocation of human resources. So the question remains: should we carry on investing an important part of our health expenditure for the treatment of hip fractures in elderly people? To answer this statement, we compared 384 hip fracture patients of 70 years and older treated in our department between 1978 and 1983 with 1102 patients treated between 1998 and 2003. Both groups had a prospective follow-up of at least one year. There were no statistically significant differences: mortality rate 24% vs. 23%; good functional outcome 82% vs. 73%; and home going rate 60% vs. 66%. The factors influencing these results were studied. So we can conclude: The number of hip fractures treated nowadays has increased compared with twenty years ago; There is no significant improvement in mortality, nor in quality of life; Age is not a contraindication for hip fracture surgery.     

How predictable is rehabilitation after hip fracture?: A prospective study of 134 patients

In a prospective study of 134 consecutive patients treated for hip fracture, rehabilitation was influenced by sociomedical factors, but not by fracture type or treatment. Success of rehabilitation was to a large extent predictable using mental and general health status. Discharge of the patients to their prefracture residence was accurately predicted in 80/89 of successful and 11/28 of failed rehabilitations. Four months after the fracture, 86/92 successful and 11/17 failed rehabilitations were predicted. More accurate prediction of rehabilitation is limited by the complexity of the rehabilitation process.