An Intensive Exercise Program Using a Technology-Enriched Rehabilitation Gym for the Recovery of Function in People With Chronic Stroke: Usability Study

BACKGROUND

Rehabilitation improves poststroke recovery with greater effect for many when applied intensively within enriched environments. The failure of health care providers to achieve minimum recommendations for rehabilitation motivated the development of a technology-enriched rehabilitation gym (TERG) that enables individuals under supervision to perform high-intensity self-managed exercises safely in an enriched environment.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the feasibility of the TERG approach and gather preliminary evidence of its effect for future research.

METHODS

This feasibility study recruited people well enough to exercise but living with motor impairment following a stroke at least 12 months previously. Following assessment, an 8-week exercise program using a TERG (eg, virtual reality treadmills, power-assisted equipment, balance trainers, and upper limb training systems) was structured in partnership with participants. The feasibility was assessed through recruitment, retention, and adherence rates along with participant interviews. Effect sizes were calculated from the mean change in standard outcome measures.

RESULTS

In total, 70 individuals registered interest, the first 50 were invited for assessment, 39 attended, and 31 were eligible and consented. Following a pilot study (n=5), 26 individuals (mean age 60.4, SD 13.3 years; mean 39.0, SD 29.2 months post stroke; n=17 males; n=10 with aphasia) were recruited to a feasibility study, which 25 individuals completed. Participants attended an average of 18.7 (SD 6.2) sessions with an 82% attendance rate. Reasons for nonattendance related to personal life, illness, weather, care, and transport. In total, 19 adverse events were reported: muscle or joint pain, fatigue, dizziness, and viral illness, all resolved within a week. Participants found the TERG program to be a positive experience with the equipment highly usable albeit with some need for individual tailoring to accommodate body shape and impairment. The inclusion of performance feedback and gamification was well received. Mean improvements in outcome measures were recorded across all domains with low to medium effect sizes.

CONCLUSIONS

This study assessed the feasibility of a holistic technology-based solution to the gap between stroke rehabilitation recommendations and provision. The results clearly demonstrate a rehabilitation program delivered through a TERG is feasible in terms of recruitment, retention, adherence, and user acceptability and may lead to considerable improvement in function, even in a chronic stroke population.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

RR2-doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2021.820929.

Radiation Therapy Decision Making Process and Operations for COVID-19 Positive Patients

Purpose/Objective(s)

A challenging clinical dilemma during the COVID-19 pandemic is management of cancer patients who test positive for COVID. Given the need to balance the risk of disease progression with the risk of transmission to other patients and staff, radiation therapy for these patients requires careful consideration and modification of standard workflows. It is also critical to develop processes to mitigate radiation treatment interruption, which can affect patient outcomes. The objective of this study was to report the clinical operations and outcomes for COVID positive patients receiving radiation therapy during the pandemic at a tertiary cancer center including 2 network locations.

Materials/Methods

During March 2020 to March 2022, the Radiation Oncology COVID committee (RO COVID) developed an integrated process to triage patients, provide treatment recommendations, and implement infection control procedures to safely deliver radiation therapy to COVID positive patients. Policies were created for each center with multidisciplinary input from infectious disease, radiation oncology, radiation therapy, and nursing. All COVID positive patients were presented to the RO COVID group and evaluated for clinical urgency, benefit with radiation, and life expectancy. If deemed necessary, a limited planned break or hypofractionated regimen was recommended to minimize staff exposure. We conducted a retrospective review of COVID positive patients with different primary malignancies treated through the COVID positive pathway.

Results

A total of 68 COVID positive patients were treated with the COVID positive pathway (HN 15, Breast 9, CNS 8, GU 8, GYN, 7, Thoracic 6, GI 5, HEME 5, PED 3, SARC 2). The median age was 57.1 years (IQR 45.8-63.4) and 47% were female. There were 39 patients (57%) who were asymptomatic and were tested for routine pre-radiation screening or due to concerns of COVID exposure. Twenty-three (34%) patients were treated with palliative intent and 8 (12%) were treated for an emergent indication (i.e., spinal cord compression, bleeding). Thirteen (19%) patients were receiving radiation treatment, had a treatment break (7-21 days), and then resumed their radiation course. All treatments were successfully completed without known nosocomial spread of COVID to staff or other patients. Among this heterogenous group of patients, 58 (85%) were alive with a median follow up of 2 months (IQR 0.5-7.5). COVID infection may have contributed to 3 out of 10 deaths (4% of total cohort). The remaining deaths were due to progression of disease or other non-COVID causes.

Conclusion

In this study, COVID positive patients were safely treated with radiation therapy through a comprehensive decision making and clinical operations pathway taking into account evolving COVID guidelines for three different variant surges. Although limited in follow up, patient outcomes are promising with few COVID-related deaths and low overall mortality rates, even with hypofractionated regimens.

A Co-creation Centre for Accessible Rehabilitation Technology

Background: The prevalence of disabling conditions is increasing globally. Rehabilitation improves function and quality of life across many conditions, particularly when applied intensively. The limited workforce, however, cannot deliver evidence-based intensive rehabilitation. By providing individuals with the tools for self- rehabilitation, technology helps bridge the gap between evidence and practise. Few people, however, can access rehabilitation technology. Barriers such as cost, training, education, portability and poor design stand in the way of equitable access. Our group of engineers and researchers have established a centre dedicated to developing accessible technology through close, frequent engagement with users and industry.

Methods: The centre employs a co-creation model, coupling engineering and science with user experience and industrial partnerships to develop accessible technology and associated processes. Due to the complexity and size of the challenge the initial focus is stroke. Recruited through a medical charity, participants, with a wide range of disabilities, use prototype and commercial technology during an 8-week rehabilitation programme with supervision from health professionals. The centre includes de-weighting systems, neurostimulation, virtual reality, treadmills, bespoke rehab games, communication apps, powered exercise equipment and gamified resistance equipment. Standard outcome measures (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) are recorded before, during, immediately after, and 3 months after the intervention and used in combination with an interview to design the initial rehabilitation programme, which is reviewed fortnightly. Qualitative methods (surveys and interviews) are used to capture personal experiences of the programme and individual technology and an advisory group of stroke survivors help interpret outcomes to feed into the technology design process. Ethical approval has been granted for a pilot cohort study with stroke survivors, which is currently underway (01/09/2021–31/12/2021) investigating acceptability and feasibility, due to report findings in 2022.

Discussion: Through partnerships, research collaborations and a co-creation model a new centre dedicated to the development of accessible rehabilitation technology has been launched and currently undergoing acceptability and feasibility testing with stroke survivors. The centre, through its close engagement with users and industry, has the potential to transform the way rehabilitation technology is developed and help revolutionise the way rehabilitation is delivered.

A contemporary presentation of the incidence and management of spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) in New Zealand: an ANZACS-QI study

Background/Purpose

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an underdiagnosed and poorly understood condition that frequently affects younger women without cardiovascular risk factors. In this project we aimed to describe the present landscape of SCAD in New Zealand (NZ).

Methods

All patients in NZ who were admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) from July 2019 to December 2020 and underwent coronary angiography were identified from the All NZ Coronary Syndrome Quality Imporvment (ANZACS-QI) registry.

Results

Of 12,053 patients admitted to hospital with an ACS, 122 had SCAD (1.0%). 80% of those with SCAD were female, with mean age of 57 years, and fewer traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction was the most common presentation (82.0%), while 16.4% presented with ST elevation myocardial infarction. The majority of patients were managed conservatively (91.8%) while 8.2% underwent PCI. 56.6% of SCAD patients had normal LV function. Nearly 80% of patients were discharged on Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) therapy, while 60.7% had a P2Y12 inhibitor. Beta blockers, Statins and ACEI/ARB were part of the management strategy in 62.5%, 59.8% and 42.6% of patients respectively while 47.5% had a combination of all 3. Amongst 122 patients, only 1 in-hospital death and 1 inpatient recurrent MI occurred, with 3 patients having bleeding of any kind.

Conclusion

In NZ, incidence of SCAD is approximately 1%. Most patients affected in NZ are female with fewer traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Management is predominantly conservative, and there is a low rate of early adverse outcomes.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

P3621Epidemiology of acute coronary syndrome by subtype in New Zealand 2006–2016: an ANZACS-QI nationwide linkage study of hospitalisation, procedures and case fatality

Background

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a common manifestation of cardiovascular disease. Inconsistent trends have been reported in the management and outcomes of the three main categories of ACS (ST-elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI], non ST-elevation myocardial infarction [NSTEMI] and unstable angina [UA]). The aims of this study were to evaluate recent trends in the incidence, invasive management and case fatality of these ACS subtypes in New Zealand.

Methods

All ACS hospitalisations between 2006–2016 were identified from routinely collected national data, and categorised into STEMI, NSTEMI, UA, and unspecified myocardial infarction (MI). For each ACS subtype, annual hospitalisation and coronary procedure rates, 28-day and 1-year fatality rates were calculated and trends tested using Poisson regression adjusted for age and sex.

Results

There were 188,264 ACS admissions, of which 16.0% were STEMI, 54.5% NSTEMI, 25.7% UA and 3.8% MI unspecified. During this period, the incidence of all ACS subtypes fell, STEMI by 3.4%/y, NSTEMI by 5.9%/year and UA by 8.5%/year. There was also a rise in the proportion of ACS patients receiving angiography and revascularisation. Rates of percutaneous coronary intervention rose for STEMI, NSTEMI and UA, but rates of coronary artery bypass grafting increased only for NSTEMI and UA. Case fatality at 28 days and 1 year was higher for STEMI than NSTEMI, and lowest for UA. Over the period there was a relative 1.6%/y decline in one-year case fatality for NSTEMI (p<0.001), but no significant change for STEMI and UA.

Conclusions

The observed declines in the incidence of all ACS subtypes is reassuring, as is the increase in the rate of revascularisation among these patients. The finding that case fatality declined in NSTEMI patients but not in STEMI and UA patients, despite an increase in invasive management in all groups, require further investigation.

P757Methamphetamine-associated cardiomyopathy: a case-controlled study of clinical characteristics, management and outcomes

Background

Methamphetamine-associated cardiomyopathy (MAC) is an increasingly diagnosed condition with poor prognosis, and there remains paucity of literature including how MAC differs from other cardiomyopathies. We compared the characteristics and outcomes MAC patients with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy controls at our centre.

Methods

Clinical profile, management and outcomes were prospectively assessed in consecutive patients with MAC at our hospital from 2006–2018. They were compared with randomly chosen controls with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy of similar age-group (20–65 year).

Results

Both groups had 62 patients followed for 3.0±2.9 years. MAC patients were younger, with higher proportion of Maori ethnicity, unemployment and cardiogenic shock during index admission and lower proportion of Pacific ethnicity, cardiovascular risk factors and atrial fibrillation. MAC patients also had higher peak NT-proBNP, lower ejection fraction, and lower attendance rate to outpatient appointments. There was no index admission mortality in both groups. MAC had higher mortality and trend to higher heart failure re-admissions rates during follow-up (Figure 1). Amongst MAC patients, baseline left ventricular end diastolic diameter and failure of improvement in right ventricular systolic function by one category during follow-up were independent predictors of mortality, while failure of improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction by one category predicted heart failure readmission.

Figure 1

Conclusions

MAC patients were younger but sicker on presentation, with higher mortality and trend towards higher heart failure readmission rates during medium-term follow-up than controls. Adherence to therapy and attendance to appointments may improve cardiac systolic function over time to reduce adverse clinical endpoints.

Community cycling exercise for stroke survivors is feasible and acceptable

Background: Physical activity is recommended after stroke but levels for stroke survivors are typically low. The use of indoor recumbent cycling, delivered through local government leisure facilities, may increase access to exercise among stroke survivors. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of an indoor cycling program delivered through existing local government services. Methods: Participants were recruited through stroke liaison nurses and public advertising. After a home visit to assess eligibility and conduct psychological and general health assessments, participants attended their local leisure center for an initial fitness test and short battery of physical tests. Then, an 8 week training program was designed with weekly goals. Following the program the assessments were retaken along with an evaluation questionnaire. In-depth, semi-structured, interviews were conducted with 15 participants and five fitness coaches. Results: One hundred fifteen individuals volunteered to participate during a 10-month recruitment period, 77 met the inclusion criteria and consented, 66/77 (86%) completed the program including all nine non-ambulatory participants. The program and procedures (recruitment and outcome measures) were feasible and acceptable to participants (81% reported following the program). Participants were generally very positive about the experience. Significant improvements in sit-to-stand capacity (M_pre = 25.2 s, M_post = 19.0 s, p = .002), activities of daily living (NEADL, M_pre = 12.2, M_post = 13.2, p = .002), psychosocial functioning (SAQOL, M_pre = 3.82, M_post = 4.15, p = .001), energy (SAQOL, M_pre = 3.75, M_post = 4.02, p = .018) and depression (GHQ, M_pre = .97, M_post = .55, p = .009) were observed. Conclusion: A cycling-based exercise program delivered through local leisure center staff and facilities was shown to be feasible and acceptable for people living with stroke.

Neuromechanical Differences Between Successful and Failed Sit-to-Stand Movements and Response to Rehabilitation Early After Stroke

BACKGROUND

Recovery of the sit-to-stand (StS) movement early after stroke could be improved by targeting physical therapy at the underlying movement deficits in those people likely to respond.

AIM

To compare the movement characteristics of successful and failed StS movements in people early after stroke and identify which characteristics change in people recovering their ability to perform this movement independently following rehabilitation.

METHODS

Muscle activity and kinematic (including center of mass, CoM) data were recorded from 91 participants (mean 35 days after stroke) performing the StS movement before (baseline), immediately after (outcome), and 3 months after (follow-up) rehabilitation. Three subgroups (never-able [n = 19], always-able [n = 51], and able-after-baseline [n = 21]) were compared at baseline with the able-after-baseline subgroup compared before and after rehabilitation.

RESULTS

The subgroups differed at baseline for quadriceps onset time ( P = .009) and forward body position when quadriceps peaked ( P = .038). Following rehabilitation, the able-after-baseline subgroup increased their forward position ( P < .001), decreased the time difference between bilateral quadriceps peaks ( P < .001) and between quadriceps and hamstrings peaks on the nonhemiplegic side ( P = .007). An improved performance in the always-able subgroup was associated with a number of baseline factors, including forward positioning ( P = .002) and time difference between peak activity of bilateral quadriceps ( P = .001).

CONCLUSIONS

This neuromechanical study of StS before and after rehabilitation in a sample of people early after stroke identified the importance of temporal coupling between forward trunk movement and quadriceps and hamstrings' activity. These findings advance the science of stroke rehabilitation by providing evidence-based therapy targets to promote recovery of the StS movement.

Sit to stand activity during stroke rehabilitation

Objectives The sit to stand (STS) movement is key to independence and commonly affected by stroke. Repetitive practice is likely to improve STS ability during rehabilitation, however current practice levels are unknown. The objective of this study was simply to count the number of STS movements performed during the rehabilitation period of stroke patients using a physical activity monitor (PAM) and test whether being observed altered outcome. Methods Participants were medically stable patients referred for rehabilitation following stroke. Participants were randomly allocated to either wear or not wear the PAM for 14 days. STS ability and general mobility were recorded before and after. Results Sixty-one patients was recruited; aged 68.4 ± 13.15 years, weight 77.12 ± 22.73 Kg, Height 1.67 ± 0.1 m, within 9 ± 9 days of their stroke and an NIHSS score of 6.4 ± 3.3. The monitored group (n = 38) performed 25.00 ± 17.24 daily STS movements. Those requiring assistance achieved 14.29 ± 16.10 per day while those independent in the movement achieved 34.10 ± 12.44. There was an overall improvement in mobility (p = 0.002) but not STS performance (p = 0.053) neither outcome was affected by group allocation (p = 0.158). Cognition and mobility at baseline explained around 50% of daily STS variability. Discussion Low levels of STS activity were recorded during the rehabilitation period of stroke patient. The mean daily STS activity was lower than reports for frail older people receiving rehabilitation, and substantially below levels recorded by community living older adults. STS repetitions may represent general physical activity and these low levels support previous reports of sedentary behavior during rehabilitation.

Safety of nicotine replacement therapy in critically ill smokers: a retrospective cohort study

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a common first-line treatment to prevent nicotine withdrawal in smokers. However, available literature reports conflicting results regarding its efficacy and safety in critically ill patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between NRT in smokers in the intensive care unit (ICU) and outcomes. This case-control study was conducted in a university-affiliated tertiary hospital ICU. Over a period of five years, 126 active smokers who received transdermal NRT were matched to 126 active smokers who did not receive NRT. The groups were case-matched for sex, age and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score. The primary outcome was administration of antipsychotic medication. Secondary outcomes included use of physical restraints, 30-day mortality, and ventilation requirements. Antipsychotic medication was prescribed in 43 (34.1%) patients who received NRT compared to 14 (11.1%) in controls (P <0.01). Physical restraints were used in 37 (29.4%) patients who received NRT, compared to 12 (9.5%) of controls (P <0.01). The 30-day mortality and number of patients intubated was not statistically different between groups. Average length of intubation time was greater in the NRT group (2.56 days; standard deviation 4.16) compared to the control group (1.44 days; standard deviation 2.68) (P=0.012). The use of NRT to prevent nicotine withdrawal in ICU patients is associated with increased use of antipsychotic medication and physical restraint, and with prolonged mechanical ventilation.

Functional strength training and movement performance therapy produce analogous improvement in sit-to-stand early after stroke: early-phase randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

Restoring independence in the sit-to-stand (STS) task is an important objective for stroke rehabilitation. It is not known if a particular intervention, strength training or therapy focused on movement performance is more likely to improve STS recovery. This study aimed to compare STS outcomes from functional strength training, movement performance therapy and conventional therapy.

DESIGN

Randomised controlled trial.

SETTING

Acute stroke units.

PARTICIPANTS

Medically well patients (n=93) with recent (<42 days) stroke. The mean age of patients was 68.8 years, mean time post ictus was 33.5 days, 54 (58%) were male, 20 showed neglect (22%) and 37 (40%) had a left-sided brain lesion.

INTERVENTIONS

Six weeks of either conventional therapy, functional strength training or movement performance therapy. Subjects were allocated to groups on a random basis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

STS ability, timing, symmetry, co-ordination, smoothness and knee velocity were measured at baseline, outcome (after 6 weeks of intervention) and follow-up (3 months after outcome).

RESULTS

No significant differences were found between the groups. All three groups improved their STS ability, with 88% able to STS at follow-up compared with 56% at baseline. Few differences were noted in quality of movement, with only symmetry when rising showing significantly greater improvement in the movement performance therapy group; this benefit was not evident at follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Recovery of the STS movement is consistently good during stroke rehabilitation, irrespective of the type of therapy experienced. Changes in quality of movement did not differ according to group allocation, indicating that the type of therapy is less important. Clinical trial registration number NCT00322192.

Evaluation of a skin barrier cream for managing IAD in elderly patients using high-frequency ultrasound

Incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) is a defined pathological entity and presents a significant burden for patients and health-care systems. The main objective of this evaluation was to test the efficacy and safety of a skin barrier cream in the management of uncomplicated IAD in elderly patients. Ten incontinent patients with mobility problems that presented with signs of IAD were included in the evaluation. The evaluation took place during a 2-week period. The product's efficacy was objectively evaluated in each patient with high-frequency ultrasound scans taken from the irritated skin compared with an ultrasound scan taken from normal adjacent (control) skin. Data analysis showed a statistical significance in favour of the capacity of the product to help reduce inflammatory signs. Photographic follow-up allowed correlation of ultrasound findings and clinical signs. The product was effective in treating the skin irritation and preventing further skin breakdown. There were no adverse events during the evaluation.