Functional Disability in Older Adults Maintained on Peritoneal Dialysis Therapy

♦ Background:

Older in-center hemodialysis patients have a high burden of functional disability. However, little is known about patients on home chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD). As patients opting for home dialysis are expected to play a greater role in their own dialysis care, we hypothesized that a relatively low number of PD patients would require help with basic self-care tasks (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL).

♦ Methods:

We used a cross-sectional study design to measure the proportion of patients aged 65 years and older undergoing outpatient PD who needed help with day-to-day activities. Patients living in nursing homes were excluded from the study. Functional dependence in ADL and IADL tasks were measured by the Barthel and Lawton Scales. Physical performance measures used included the timed up-and-go (TUG) test, chair stands and Folstein mini-mental score (MMSE).

♦ Results:

A total of 74 of 76 (97%) eligible PD patients participated. Patients had a mean age of 76.2 ± 7.5 years. Thirty-six percent had impaired MMSE scores, 69% were unable to stand from a chair without the use of their arms and 51% had abnormal TUG scores. Only 8 patients (11%) were fully independent for both ADL and IADL activities. Dependence in one or more ADL activity was reported by 64% of participants, while 89% reported dependence in one or more IADL.

♦ Conclusions:

Impaired physical and functional performance is common in older patients maintained on PD. Collaborative geriatric-renal programs may be beneficial within the dialysis community.     

Handgrip Strength but not Appendicular Lean Mass is an Independent Predictor of Functional Outcome in Hip-Fracture Women: A Short-Term Prospective Study

Objective

To investigate the contribution of muscle mass and handgrip strength in predicting the functional outcome after hip fracture in women.

Design

Observational study.

Setting

Rehabilitation hospital.

Participants

White women (N=123 of 149) who were consecutively admitted to a rehabilitation hospital because of their first fracture of the hip.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

We measured appendicular lean mass (aLM) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) 21.1±8.7 (mean ± SD) days after hip fracture occurrence in the 123 women. On the same day, we assessed grip strength at the nondominant arm with a dynamometer. At the end of acute inpatient rehabilitation we measured the ability to function in activities of daily living by using the Barthel Index, and lower limb performance by using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test.

Results

We found significant correlations between handgrip strength measured before rehabilitation and Barthel Index scores after rehabilitation (ρ=.50; P<.001), Barthel Index effectiveness (ρ=.45; P<.001), and the TUG test (ρ=−.41; P<.001). Conversely, we found no significant correlations between aLM/height² and Barthel Index scores after rehabilitation (ρ=.075; P=.41), Barthel Index effectiveness (ρ=.06; P=.53), or the TUG test (ρ=.005; P=.96). Significant associations between grip strength and all the outcome measures persisted after adjustment for 8 potential confounders, including Barthel Index scores before rehabilitation, age, number of medications, number of comorbidities, pressure ulcers, concomitant infections, time between fracture occurrence and assessment, and aLM/height².

Conclusions

Grip strength, but not DXA-assessed aLM, significantly predicted short-term functional outcome in women after a hip fracture.     

Progressive resistance training for community-dwelling women aged 90 or older; a single-subject experimental design

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the effect and feasibility of a 12-week programme of progressive resistance exercise on a group of nonagenarian (≥90 years) community-dwelling women. Method: An A–B single-subject experimental design was applied. Visual analyses were used for estimating the effect of the intervention. Outcome measurements were: Timed Up and Go (TUG), comfortable walking speed and 30-s chair stands. The programme comprised four exercises, following the principle of overload, aiming at improving strength in the main muscle groups. Feasibility of the progressive resistance intervention was assessed by recording the recruitment of participants, adherence to the intervention and adverse events. Results: Twenty-seven women were invited; eight women aged 90 and above agreed to participate and six completed the study. They suffered from one to 10 chronic medical conditions. All improved their performance in the TUG test. Five of the six participants achieved a higher walking speed (11–59%) and four of them improved on the 30-s chair-stand test with five to 10 stands. No major adverse events were reported. Conclusion: Progressive resistance training was a safe and efficient method to enhance mobility and increase lower body strength in this heterogeneous group of nonagenarian community-dwelling women.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• Progressive resistance (PRT) training was found to be a safe and efficient method to enhance mobility and increase lower body strength in a group of community-dwelling women 90+.

• Participants with the poorest initial functional performance had great benefits, and the improvements appeared already after a few weeks of PRT.

• PRT might be useful in the rehabilitation field and could be implemented in facilities such as day care and senior centres frequented by very old persons with mobility limitations.

     

Sedative load and functional outcomes in community‐dwelling older Australian men: the CHAMP study

The aim of this cross‐sectional study was to investigate the association between sedative load and functional outcomes in community‐dwelling older Australian men. A total of 1696 males aged ≥ 70 years, enrolled in the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project, were studied. Participants underwent assessments during 2005–2007. Sedative load was computed using a published model. Outcomes included activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), physical performance measures and a clinical diagnosis of cognitive impairment. Of the participants, 15.3% took medications with sedative properties. After adjusting for age, education, depressive symptoms and comorbidities, participants who took one medication with sedation as a prominent side effect (sedative load = 1) had odds ratio (OR) of 2.15 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.20–3.85) for ADL disability, compared with participants with sedative load = 0. Participants who took at least one primary sedative or two medications with sedation as a prominent side effect (sedative load ≥ 2) had an OR of 1.55 (95% CI: 1.02–2.35) for IADL disability, compared with participants with sedative load = 0. The mean 6‐m walking speed (P = 0.001) and grip strength (P = 0.003) were significantly different between sedative load groups in unadjusted models only. No association between sedative load and poorer performance on balance and chair stands tests or cognitive impairment was observed. Participants with sedative load of one were more likely to report ADL disability, whereas participants with sedative load of ≥2 were more likely to report IADL disability. Higher sedative load was not associated with poorer physical performance or cognitive impairment in older Australian men.     

Predictors of daily mobility skills 6 months post-discharge from acute care or rehabilitation in older adults with stroke living at home

Purpose. To determine the evolution of daily mobility skills from the timed up-and-go (TUG) upto 6 months after home return in older adults with stroke discharged from acute care or rehabilitation; and to identify the best predictive factors of the TUG at 6 months post-discharge.

Methods. In this longitudinal prospective study, people with stroke aged 65 years or more and discharged home from an acute care hospital (n = 82) or a rehabilitation service (n = 109) were included. The TUG was measured at discharge (T1), and at 3 and 6 months post-discharge (T2 and T3). Correlations between the TUG at T3 and sociodemographic and clinical variables, as well as physical, cognitive, perceptual and psychological measures at T1, were used in a multiple regression model to identify the best predictors of TUG at T3.

Results. TUG did not change between T1, T2 and T3 in the two groups of participants. The best predictors of TUG at T3 in participants from acute care were the use of a walking aid in daily life, age, deficits in oral expression and the presence of depressive symptoms. In participants from rehabilitation, predictors were the stage of motor recovery of the foot, the use of a walking aid in daily life, number of schooling years and memory impairments.

Conclusion. Daily mobility skills, as assessed with the TUG, did not deteriorate upto 6 months after home return in older adults with stroke. The best predictor of the TUG at T3 is the use of a walking aid during daily life in participants from acute care, and motor recovery of the foot in participants from rehabilitation.     

Improved functional ability and independence in activities of daily living for older adults at high risk of hospital readmission: a randomized controlled trial

Objective During hospitalization older people often experience functional decline which impacts on their future independence. The objective of this study was to evaluate a multifaceted transitional care intervention including home‐based exercise strategies for at‐risk older people on functional status, independence in activities of daily living (ADLs) and walking ability. Methods A randomized controlled trial was undertaken in a metropolitan hospital in Australia with 128 patients (64 intervention, 64 control) aged over 65 years with an acute medical admission and at least one risk factor for hospital readmission. The intervention group received an individually tailored programme for exercise and follow‐up care which was commenced in hospital and included regular visits in hospital by a physiotherapist and a registered nurse, a home visit following discharge and regular telephone follow‐up for 24 weeks following discharge. The programme was designed to improve health‐promoting behaviours, strength, stability, endurance and mobility. Data were collected at baseline, then 4, 12 and 24 weeks following discharge using the Index of ADL, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) and the Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ; modified). Results Significant improvements were found in the intervention group in IADL scores (P < 0.001), ADL scores (P < 0.001) and WIQ scale scores (P < 0.001) in comparison to the control group. The greatest improvements were found in the first 4 weeks following discharge. Conclusions Early introduction of a transitional model of care incorporating a tailored exercise programme and regular telephone follow‐up for hospitalized at‐risk older adults can improve independence and functional ability.     

Using Timed Up and Go and Usual Gait Speed to Predict Incident Disability in Daily Activities Among Community-Dwelling Adults Aged 65 and Older

Objectives

To compare the ability of Timed Up and Go (TUG) and usual gait speed (UGS) to predict incident disability completing basic activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL) in older adults free of disability at baseline, and to provide estimates for the probability of incident disability at different levels of baseline mobility performance.

Design

Data from the first 2 waves of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, a study assessing health, economic, and social aspects of ageing in adults aged ≥50 years.

Setting

A nationally representative, population-based sample of community-dwelling adults.

Participants

Participants aged ≥65 years who completed mobility tests during a health assessment, had no reported difficulty in ADL/IADL, and had a Mini-Mental State Examination score ≥24 were re-interviewed after 2 years (n=1664).

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Participants completed the TUG and UGS at baseline and indicated difficulty in a number of basic ADL and IADL at follow-up.

Results

Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that TUG and UGS are acceptable tools to predict disability in ADL and IADL (area under the curve [AUC]=.65–.75) with no significant difference between them (P>.05). Both were excellent predictors of difficulty in higher-level functioning tasks such as preparing hot meals, taking medications, and managing money (AUC>.80). Predictive probabilities were obtained across a range of performance levels.

Conclusions

TUG and UGS have similar predictive ability in relation to incident disability in basic ADL and IADL. Predictive probabilities can be used to identify those most at risk and in need of particular services. Since improving physical function can prevent or delay dependence in ADL/IADL, TUG and UGS can also provide performance goals and feedback during exercise interventions.     

Outcomes among older people in a post-acute inpatient rehabilitation unit

Purpose: Designated multidisciplinary rehabilitation units have been shown to provide several benefits for the frail older population. The aim of this research was to evaluate changes in strength, mobility, balance, endurance, frailty and quality of life (QoL) following a 6-week multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation programme. Method: This was a prospective, observational study performed in a post-acute multidisciplinary geriatric inpatient rehabilitation service. A consecutive sample of heterogenous frail older adults (n?=?32) participated. Subjects were assessed on admission to the rehabilitation service (T1) and following 6 weeks of rehabilitation (T2). A range of outcome measures were used to assess function and QoL: Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG), 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Barthel Index (BI), EuroQol-Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS), Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), lower limb and grip dynamometry. Results: The majority were female (n?=?25), the mean age was 82.9 years (SD 6.35). The median length of stay was 49 days. Patients improved significantly between T1 and T2 assessments in the BBS (p?≤?0.0001); TUG (p?≤?0.0001); 6MWT (p?≤?0.0001); BI (p?≤?0.0001); EQ-VAS (p?=?0.002); CFS (p?≤?0.0001); and in some aspects of grip and lower limb strength. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that positive outcomes occurred in a range of measures in an older, frail inpatient rehabilitation population.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Elderly inpatients undergoing rehabilitation programmes improve across a range of measures looking at impairment, activity, participation and quality of life.

• However, gains were modest and patients did not attain their baseline level of performance after a 6-week programme of inpatient rehabilitation.

• Using outcome measures in clinical rehabilitation practice can facilitate comparison between units and can form the basis for future research in this population.

     

Urinary incontinence in a community sample of older adults: prevalence and impact on quality of life

Purpose.?To measure the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) in a community-dwelling sample and the impact of self-reported UI on well-being and activity in older men and women.

Method.?Participants were older adults aged ≥65 years. Measures included the frequency of urgency incontinence, depression, positive and negative affect and social activity, independence in activities of daily living (IADL) and self-rated health. The data were collected by face to face interview (1994) and computer assisted telephone interviews (1996).

Results.?Of the 796 participants, 28%% experienced urgency incontinence and 21%% reported stress incontinence occasionally or often, with higher rates among women. The threshold for the impact on depression, negative affect and IADL was with occasional occurrence of urinary urgency incontinence. For positive affect and self-rated health, the threshold was experiencing urinary urgency incontinence often. The presence of urinary stress incontinence was associated with depression, IADL dependence, self-rated health and positive affect. Overall, women with incontinence had higher negative affect scores, but men with stress incontinence had higher scores than those without.

Conclusions.?The impact of incontinence highlights the need for more effective management of the condition. The threshold for the effects of urinary urgency incontinence on mental health and functionality is lower than for the effects on general health. There is a need to consider how older people judge the impact of UI in the design of targeted health promotion programmes.     

Self-rated health in the unwell elderly presenting to the emergency department

Objective: Self‐rated health (SRH) has been shown to be a reliable predictor of functional decline and mortality. These studies, however, have largely focused on well community‐dwelling elderly. We assessed whether the predictive value of SRH would still be valid for the acutely unwell older person presenting to the ED. Methods: The present study was a secondary analysis of data obtained from the Discharge of Elderly from Emergency Department (DEED II) study. The sample consisted of 741 older people sent home from an ED. On enrolment, patients were asked the SRH question, ‘In general, would you say your health is excellent, very good, good, fair or poor?’ Phone interviews were conducted at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months. Functional status was assessed using the Barthel index of activities of daily living (ADL), modified instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (MSQ). Results: An SRH of fair/poor produced a hazard ratio of 3.1 (95% confidence interval 1.3–7.2, P = 0.010) for predicting mortality after controlling for confounders. The rate of decline in ADL and IADL (but not MSQ) over time was also more pronounced for those with an SRH of fair/poor (P < 0.001 for both ADL and IADL). An SRH of fair/poor had a relative risk of 3.4 for predicting decline in ADL at 18 months (95% confidence interval 1.7–7.1, P = 0.001). The effects of SRH on IADL and MSQ were not statistically significant. Conclusions: The ability of SRH to predict functional decline and mortality persists for the acutely unwell elderly presenting to the ED. SRH is a simple and valuable tool to assess the elderly in the ED and to identify high‐risk patients who would benefit from comprehensive geriatric assessment aimed at delaying such outcomes.     

Persistent Symptoms and Disability After COVID-19 Hospitalization: Data From a Comprehensive Telerehabilitation Program

ObjectiveTo report symptoms, disability, and rehabilitation referral rates after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalization in a large, predominantly older population.DesignCross-sectional study, with postdischarge telemonitoring of individuals hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 at the first month after hospital discharge, as part of a comprehensive telerehabilitation program.SettingPrivate verticalized health care network specialized in the older population.ParticipantsIndividuals hospitalized because of COVID-19. We included 1696 consecutive patients, aged 71.8±13.0 years old and 56.1% female. Comorbidities were present in 82.3% of the cases (N=1696).InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresDependence for basic activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) using the Barthel Index and Lawton's Scale. We compared the outcomes between participants admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) vs those admitted to the ward.ResultsParticipant were followed up for 21.8±11.7 days after discharge. During postdischarge assessment, independence for ADL was found to be lower in the group admitted to the ICU than the ward group (61.1% [95% confidence interval (CI), 55.8%-66.2%] vs 72.7% [95% CI, 70.3%-75.1%], P<.001). Dependence for IADL was also more frequent in the ICU group (84.6% [95% CI, 80.4%-88.2%] vs 74.5%, [95% CI, 72.0%-76.8%], P<.001). Individuals admitted to ICU required more oxygen therapy (25.5% vs 12.6%, P<.001), presented more shortness of breath during routine (45.2% vs 34.5%, P<.001) and nonroutine activities (66.3% vs 48.2%, P<.001), and had more difficulty standing up for 10 minutes (49.3% vs 37.9% P<.001). The rehabilitation treatment plan consisted mostly of exercise booklets, which were offered to 65.5% of participants. The most referred rehabilitation professionals were psychologists (11.8%), physical therapists (8.0%), dietitians (6.8%), and speech-language pathologists (4.6%).ConclusionsIndividuals hospitalized because of COVID-19 present high levels of disability, dyspnea, dysphagia, and dependence for both ADL and IADL. Those admitted to the ICU presented more advanced disability parameters.     

Factors explaining return to work for long-term sick workers in Norway

Purpose. To examine attitudes toward exercise among a vulnerable aged population characterized by low socioeconomic status, poor functional status and lack of available therapeutic exercise resources.

Method. This cross-sectional survey among public low-income housing residents (n = 94), aged > 70 years utilizes these assessments: Physician-based Assessment & Counseling for Exercise (PACE) scale, exercise self-efficacy score, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scales.

Results. Readiness to exercise differed significantly (p < 0.001) across physical performance levels, and ADL and IADL groups. Exercise self-efficacy also differed significantly (p < 0.001) across performance levels. The highest performance level (score 7 – 12) had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher self-efficacy score than the medium performance level (score 4 – 6) and the lowest performance level (0 – 3) groups. Exercise self-efficacy also differed significantly (p < 0.001) across ADL and IADL groups. However, interest in home-based or class-based exercise participation was high among all groups. More than 70% of subjects reported interest with no significant difference noted among groups.

Conclusion. Attitudes toward exercise are significantly associated with observed physical function and self-reported disability among vulnerable older adults living in public low-income housing.     

Foot and leg problems are important determinants of functional status in community dwelling older people

Purpose.?To determine whether foot and leg problems are independently associated with functional status in a community sample of older people after adjusting for the influence of socio-demographic, physical and medical factors.

Method.?Data were analysed from the Health Status of Older People project, a population-based study involving a random sample of 1000 community-dwelling people aged 65?–?94 years (533 females, 467 males, mean age 73.4 years?±?5.87). A structured interview and brief physical examination were used to investigate the associations between self-reported foot and leg problems and functional status. Functional status was assessed using: (i) timed ‘Up & Go’ test, (ii) self-reported difficulty climbing stairs, (iii) self-reported difficulty walking one kilometer, (iv) self-reported difficulty performing instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and (v) self-reported history of one or more falls in the previous 12 months. These associations were then explored after adjusting for socio-demographic, physical and medical factors.

Results.?Thirty-six percent of the sample reported having foot or leg problems. Univariate analyses revealed that people with foot and leg problems were significantly more likely to exhibit poorer functional status in all parameters measured. After adjusting for socio-demographic, physical and medical factors, foot and leg problems remained significantly associated with impaired timed ‘Up & Go’ performance (OR?=?2.15, 95%CI 1.55?–?2.97), difficulty climbing stairs (OR?=?3.33, 95%CI 1.98?–?5.61), difficulty walking one kilometer (OR?=?3.13, 95%CI 2.09?–?4.69), and history of falling (OR?=?1.73, 95%CI 1.26?–?2.37).

Conclusions.?Foot and leg problems are reported by one in three community-dwelling people aged 65 years and older. Independent of the influence of age, gender, common medical conditions and other socio-demographic factors, foot and leg problems have a significant impact on the ability to perform functional tasks integral to independent living.     

Prognostic factors for self-rated function and perceived health in patient living at home three months after a hip fracture

Purpose: To explore the relationship between prefracture sociodemographic and health characteristics, basic activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living and perceived health 3 months after a hip fracture aged 65 or older.Methods: Age, sex, living alone or not, use of walking aids and whether they had experienced another fall during the previous 6 months, were recorded in hospital and at a three-month follow-up. A total of 277 patients were included. The Barthel Index, the Nottingham Extended ADL Index, the Short Form-12 questionnaire, and the Mini Mental State Examination were used.Results: Prefracture use of a walking aid outdoors was a predictor of postfracture dependency in basic activities of daily living: odds ratio (OR) 2.0, 95% confidence intervals (CI 1.1–3.6), reduced score in instrumental activities of daily living (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.0–3.2) and reduced perceived physical health (p?=?0.04). Prefracture instrumental activity of daily living was a predictor for dependency in basic activities of daily living (OR 3.3; 95% CI 1.7–6.3). Cognitive dysfunction was a risk factor for dependency in basic activities of daily living (OR 0.1; 95% CI 0.01–0.7).Conclusions: Prefracture use of outdoor walking aids, perceived physical health, cognitive function, instrumental activity of daily living and female gender were all predictors explaining the three-month outcomes for basic activities of daily living and instrumental activity of daily living.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• The use of a walking aid before hip fracture may be a poor prognostic factor affecting 3-months rehabilitation outcome of hip-fractured patients.

• It is of importance to having knowledge of the patient’s prefracture status when planning rehabilitation.

     

Psychometric evaluation of the original and Canadian French version of the activities-specific balance confidence scale among people with stroke

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the internal and absolute reliability and construct validity of the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale and a new Canadian French version (ABC-CF) of it among people with stroke. DESIGN: Cross-sectional data from a randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Community. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-one people with a residual walking deficit between 57 and 386 days poststroke. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The ABC and ABC-CF scales, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), comfortable and maximum gait speeds, Timed Up & Go (TUG) test, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), Barthel Index, physical function scale of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and the EQ-5D visual analog scale (EQ VAS). RESULTS: Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) was .94 and .93 and the standard error of measurement was 5.05 and 5.13 for the ABC (n=51) and the ABC-CF (n=35) scales, respectively. Spearman rho values ranged from .30 to .60 for the ABC scale and from .45 to .68 on the ABC-CF scale for associations with scores on the BBS, comfortable and maximum gait speeds, TUG, 6MWT, Barthel Index, physical function scale, GDS, and EQ VAS. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence of internal and absolute reliability and of construct validity of the ABC and the ABC-CF scales supports their use for cross-sectional measurements of balance self-efficacy among community-dwelling people in the first year poststroke.     

Contribution of subjective balance confidence on functional mobility in subjects with chronic stroke

Purpose.?To examine the contribution of subjective balance confidence, balance ability, motor impairments and muscle strength to the timed ‘Up & Go’ (TUG) scores of 78 subjects with chronic stroke using cross-sectional design.

Methods.?Functional mobility was measured in terms of TUG scores. Balance ability and subjective balance confidence were assessed with the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the activities-specific balance confidence (ABC) scale, respectively. Stroke-specific motor impairment and muscle strength of lower extremity were measured using the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment lower extremity (FMA-LE) scores and hand-held dynamometer.

Results.?We found that the TUG scores had the highest negative correlation with subjective balance confidence. After controlling for use of walking aids, significant partial correlations were identified between the TUG scores and subjective balance confidence and balance ability. Applying linear regression model, the TUG scores showed association with subjective balance confidence and balance ability, independently. The motor impairments and muscle strength, however, were not significant predictors of TUG scores. The whole model could explain 63.0%% of the variance in the TUG scores.

Conclusions.?Our results support that improving both subjective balance confidence, in addition to functional balance training could be crucial in promoting functional mobility of community-dwelling stroke survivors.     

Early and intensive rehabilitation predicts good functional outcomes in patients admitted to the stroke intensive care unit

Purpose.?Earlier and more intense rehabilitation benefit stroke patients. Yet, studies have caution intensive therapy during acute brain injury. This study examined the rehabilitation commencement time and intensity as predictors of functional outcomes in acute stroke patients admitted to the stroke intensive care unit (ICU).

Method.?Sociodemographic, medical, rehabilitative and functional data were collected on 154 acute stroke patients. Regression analyses were used to identify predictors for the basic activities of daily living (Barthel Index, BI) and the walking ability at discharge.

Result.?Rehabilitation commencement time and intensity significantly predicted the BI score at discharge after adjusting for initial severity (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, NIHSS) and age (p?<?0.05). For the walking function at discharge, only the rehabilitation intensity was a significant predictor after adjusting for initial severity and age (p?<?0.05). Furthermore, with increasing rehabilitation intensity, patients with severe stroke benefited more than those with moderate stroke.

Conclusion.?Rehabilitation commencement time and intensity, after adjusting for admission functional status and severity of stroke, remained to be important predictors of stroke functional outcomes. This study supported the recommendation to commence rehabilitation early and intensively and provided evidence that this claim can be extended to acute stroke patients admitted to an ICU.     

Validity of Clinically Derived Cumulative Somatosensory Impairment Index

Deshpande N, Metter EJ, Ferrucci L. Validity of clinically derived Cumulative Somatosensory Impairment Index.

Objective

To develop a Cumulative Somatosensory Impairment Index for the lower limbs and evaluate its construct validity for discriminating relevant groups and predictive validity for predicting global postural control over time.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Population-based cohort.

Participants

InCHIANTI (“Invecchiare in Chianti” or aging in the Chianti area) study participants (N=960; age, 21-91y, 51.8% women).

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

The Cumulative Somatosensory Impairment Index was derived from baseline performance on clinical tests of pressure sensitivity, vibration sensitivity, proprioception, and graphesthesia. Global postural control was assessed using Frailty and Injuries Cooperative Studies of Intervention Techniques (FICSIT) balance test, time to complete 5 repeated chair stands, and fast walking speed, at baseline and at 3-year follow-up.

Results

In participants without neurologic conditions (n=799), the Cumulative Somatosensory Impairment Index was significantly different in age groups classified by decades (P<.001). Compared with participants without prevalent conditions, the Cumulative Somatosensory Impairment Index was significantly higher in persons with diabetes (P=.017), peripheral arterial disease (P=.006), and a history of stroke (P<.001). In the overall population (N=960), in the fully adjusted multiple regression models, the Cumulative Somatosensory Impairment Index independently predicted deterioration in FICSIT scores (P=.002), time for 5 repeated chair stands (P<.001), and fast gait speed (P=.003) at 3-year follow-up.

Conclusions

The Cumulative Somatosensory Impairment Index is a valid measure that detects relevant group differences in lower limb somatosensory impairment and is an independent predictor of decline in postural control over 3 years.     

头针结合康复训练治疗脑卒中后平衡及步行障碍的疗效分析

目的：探讨分析头针结合康复训练对于脑卒中患者平衡和步行障碍的疗效。方法：将125例脑卒中患者随机分为观察组63例和对照组62例,对照组患者给予常规内科药物治疗和常规康复治疗,观察组在对照组基础上给予头针治疗,2组患者训练前后评估Fugl-Meyer评定量表运动功能部分(FMA)、Barthel指数（BI）、Berg平衡量表(BBS)、Holden功能步行分级(FAC)、站立走计时测试（TUG）。结果：治疗1个月后,2组FMA、BI、BBS、FAC评分均较治疗前明显增加（均P＜0.01）,并且观察组更高于对照组（P＜0.01）;2组TUG较治疗前明显减少（P＜0.01）,且观察组较对照组的时间更少（P＜0.01）。结论：头针结合康复训练可以明显改善脑卒中患者的肢体运动功能、日常生活能力、平衡功能和步行能力。     

Role of Resistance Training in Mitigating Risk for Mobility Disability in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

ObjectiveTo examine the effects of community-based resistance training (RT) on physical function for older adults with mobility disability.Data SourcesFour databases (PubM, PubMed, MEDLINE, Ovid, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, Web of Science) were searched from inception to February 2, 2021.Study SelectionRandomized controlled trials that examined community-based RT for improving physical function in community-dwelling older adults were included.Data ExtractionTwo reviewers independently conducted title and abstract screening, full-text evaluation, data extraction, and risk of bias quality assessment.Data SynthesisTwenty-four studies (3656 participants; age range, 63-83 years) were included. RT programs ranged from 10 weeks to 18 months in duration. RT was more effective than control in improving 6-minute walk test distance (n=638; mean difference [MD], 16.1m; 95% CI, 12.27-19.94; P<.0001), lower extremity strength (n=785; standardized MD, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.27-2.75; P<.0001), and usual gait speed (n= 2106; MD, 0.05 m/s, 95% CI, 0.03-0.07; P<.001). In sensitivity analyses, benefits were maintained when studies with a high risk of bias were excluded. There was no effect of RT on fast gait speed or Short Physical Performance Battery score compared with control.ConclusionsRT improves walking distance, lower extremity strength, and usual gait speed in older adults with mobility disability. Improvements in physical function could increase independence in activities of daily living for this at-risk population.