The role of physical exercise and rehabilitation in delirium

PURPOSE

This article aims to analyze the intersections between delirium, physical exercise and rehabilitation, to better understand their interrelation and to visualize future lines of research.

METHODS

In this narrative review, after an overview of brain neurophysiology and function, as common substrates to understand the relationship between delirium and physical function, we explore the scientific evidence in: (1) physical dysfunction as a risk factor for delirium; (2) physical dysfunction as a symptom of delirium and (3) functional consequences related to delirium. Later, we analyze the physical therapy as one of the main strategies in multicomponent interventions to prevent delirium, by examining intervention studies including rehabilitation, which have shown to be effective in managing delirium. Finally, we analyze how frailty, delirium and physical exercise interact with each other.

RESULTS

This review confirms the close relationship between delirium and physical dysfunction; therefore, it is not surprising that physical exercise is widely used in delirium preventive strategies. Although delirium is catalogued as a neurocognitive disorder, scientific evidence shows that it is also a motor disorder, which is to be expected, since a vast body of literature already supports an interaction between motor and cognitive function.

CONCLUSION

The motor component of delirium should be taken into account when designing interventions or strategies to address delirium. These interventions may have a special importance in frail older adults.

A Community Program of Integrated Care for Frail Older Adults: +AGIL Barcelona

OBJECTIVES

To assess the 3-month impact on physical function of a program for community-dwelling frail older adults, based on the integration of primary care, geriatric medicine, and community resources, implemented in "real life".

DESIGN

Interventional cohort study.

SETTING

Primary care in Barcelona, Spain.

PARTICIPANTS

Individuals aged ≥80 years (n=134), presenting at least one sign of frailty (i.e., slow gait speed, weakness, memory complaints, involuntary weight loss, poor social support).

INTERVENTION

After frailty screening by the primary care team, candidates were referred to a geriatric team (geriatrician + physical therapist), who performed a comprehensive geriatric assessment and designed a tailored multidisciplinary intervention in the community, including a) multi-modal physical activity (PA) sessions, b) promotion of adherence to a Mediterranean diet c) health education and d) medication review.

MEASUREMENTS

Participants were assessed based on a comprehensive geriatric assessment including physical performance (Short Physical Performance Battery -SPPB- and gait speed), at baseline and at a three month follow-up.

RESULTS

A total of 112 (83.6%) participants (mean age=80.8 years, 67.9% women) were included in this research. Despite being independent in daily life, participants' physical performance was impaired (SPPB=7.5, SD=2.1, gait speed=0.71, SD=0.20 m/sec). After three months, 90.2% of participants completed ≥7.5 physical activity sessions. The mean improvements were +1.47 (SD 1.64) points (p<0.001) for SPPB, +0.08 (SD 0.13) m/sec (p<0.001) for gait speed, -5.5 (SD 12.10) sec (p<0.001) for chair stand test, and 53% (p<0.001) improved their balance. Results remained substantially unchanged after stratifying the analyses according to the severity of frailty.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggested that a "real-world" multidisciplinary intervention, integrating primary care, geriatric care, and community services may improve physical function, a marker of frailty, within 3 months. Further studies are needed to address the long-term impact and scalability of this implementation program.

Characteristics of elderly patients attended at a psychiatry emergency room

Introduction

There is no general agreement on the prevalence of mental disorders in the elderly, although it is estimated that 25%. of them present psychiatric symptoms. Geriatric psychiatry is one of the most rapidly advancing fields and requires a comprehensive approach.

Objectives

To analyse the characteristics of patients older than 65 who are attended at the psychiatry emergency room.

Methods

A descriptive study was conducted among all elderly pacients seen during May 2010 at the psychiatry emergency room at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital. Clinical variables (functional status, reason to show up, medical history, diagnosis), treatment and referral at discharge were analysed.

Results

36 patients (44.4% men, mean age 75.3 years) were identified. Charlson comorbidity index was 2.08. Suicide attempts were the most frequent reason for admission (27.8%), followed by psychomotor agitation (16.7%), anxiety disorders (13.9%), delirium (13.9%), depression (11.1%), and behaviour disorders (8.3%). Concerning psychiatric antecedents 58.3% had depressive disorder and 40% reported somatic symptoms during the month prior to their consultation.

The most common diagnosis at discharge were anxiety-depressive disorders (52.7%) and delirium (16.7%). The most widely prescribed psychotropics were antipsychotics (19.4% haloperidol, 13.9% quetiapine) followed by benzodiazepines (13.9%). Referral at discharge was: 41.7% home, 13.9% midterm psychiatric units, 27.8% acute psychiatric inpatient unit and 16.7% Internal Medicine.

Conclusions

Typically, elderly patients attended at the psychiatric emergency room are diagnosed of an anxiety-depressive disorder and often present with a suicidal attempt, but only 41.7% are admitted as psychiatric inpatients.