RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Pain is a frequent long-term consequence of stroke, but its relation to emotional and social well-being is poorly studied in stroke populations. We aimed to identify the prevalence of substantial pain among institutionalized stroke patients and to explore its relation to emotional distress (ED) and low social engagement (SE). METHODS: In a cross-sectional design, we collected data of 274 chronic stroke patients in Dutch nursing homes. Observation lists were filled out in structured interviews with qualified nurse assistants who knew the residents well. Pain and SE were measured with the Resident Assessment Instrument for Long-term Care Facilities, and ED was measured with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPIQ). RESULTS: Substantial pain was present in 28% of the residents, mostly located in the affected body side (68%). Multilevel regression analyses revealed that this pain was independently related to a 60% increase in NPIQ score (ß 3.18 [1.84-4.53]) and to clinically relevant symptoms of delusions (odds ratio [OR] 8.45 [1.82-39.05]), agitation/aggression (OR 3.82 [1.76-8.29]), depression (OR 3.49 [1.75-6.98]), and anxiety (OR 2.32 [1.08-4.97]). Substantial pain was associated with low SE when adjusted for clinical covariates (OR 4.25 [1.72-10.53]), but only in residents with no/mild or severe cognitive impairment. This relation disappeared when additionally corrected for NPIQ score (OR 1.95 [0.71-5.39]). CONCLUSIONS: Pain is a serious and multidimensional problem among institutionalized stroke patients. It is related to increased ED, which in turn can be a pathway to low SE as an indicator of social vulnerability. Future research should reveal how pain management in nursing homes can be tailored to the needs of this patient group.
Asunto(s)
Casas de Salud/estadística & datos numéricos , Dolor/psicología , Conducta Social , Estrés Psicológico/etiología , Accidente Cerebrovascular/complicaciones , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Agresión/psicología , Enfermedad Crónica , Estudios Transversales , Deluciones/etiología , Trastorno Depresivo , Femenino , Humanos , Cuidados a Largo Plazo/estadística & datos numéricos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Países Bajos , Oportunidad Relativa , Dolor/etiología , Prevalencia , Agitación Psicomotora/etiología , Análisis de Regresión , Estrés Psicológico/complicaciones , Accidente Cerebrovascular/psicologíaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Apathy is a frequent neuropsychiatric consequence of stroke. In the under-researched population of institutionalized stroke patients, we aimed to explore the prevalence of apathy, its clinical correlates, and the relation to the amount of stimulating activities in the nursing home (NH). DESIGN: A cross-sectional, observational study. SETTING: Dutch NHs. PARTICIPANTS: 274 chronic stroke patients. MEASUREMENTS: Data were collected through observation lists that were filled out in structured interviews with qualified nurse assistants who knew the residents well. The lists comprised the NH-version of the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES10), the Barthel Index, the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire, and sections of the Resident Assessment Instrument for Long-Term Care Facilities. Attending physicians and therapists provided additional information. RESULTS: Apathy (AES10 score ≥30) was present in 28% of residents. Multilevel regression analyses revealed that this apathy was independently related to (moderate, severe) cognitive impairment (odds ratio [OR] 11.30 [95% confidence interval (CI): 4.96-25.74], OR 5.54 [95% CI: 2.48-12.40]), very severe ADL-dependency (OR 12.10 [95% CI: 1.35-108.66]), and being >12 hours per day in bed (OR 2.10 [95% CI: 1.07-4.13]). It was not related to depressive mood symptoms (OR 1.75 [95% CI: 0.91-3.37]). Only in residents aged less than 80 years were a higher amount of activities independently related to a lower AES10 score (-0.70 [95% CI: -1.18 to -0.20] points per four extra activities in a 4-week period). CONCLUSIONS: Apathy is prevalent in largely one-quarter of institutionalized stroke patients, and that is most strongly related to cognitive impairment in this explorative study. We discuss the need for research on the relation with distinct dimensions of depression and fatigue as partly overlapping constructs, and on (individualized) stimulating activities as a possible intervention method.
Asunto(s)
Apatía , Institucionalización/estadística & datos numéricos , Accidente Cerebrovascular/psicología , Actividades Cotidianas/psicología , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Trastornos del Conocimiento/complicaciones , Trastornos del Conocimiento/epidemiología , Trastornos del Conocimiento/psicología , Estudios Transversales , Dependencia Psicológica , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Actividad Motora , Países Bajos/epidemiología , Casas de Salud/estadística & datos numéricos , Prevalencia , Análisis de Regresión , Accidente Cerebrovascular/complicaciones , Accidente Cerebrovascular/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
PURPOSE: To identify factors in the early post-stroke period that have a predictive value for a poor outcome, defined as institutionalization or severe disability. METHODS: MEDLINE, PSYCINFO, EMBASE and CINAHL were systematically searched for observational cohort studies in which adult and/or elderly stroke patients were assessed ≤ 1 month post-stroke and poor outcome was determined after a follow-up of ≥ 3 months. RESULTS: Thirty three articles were selected from 4063 records, describing 27 independent cohort studies. There are rather consistent findings that greater age, a more severe stroke (measured through a clinical evaluation scale), the presence of urinary incontinence (with impaired awareness) and a larger stroke volume (measured through brain imaging techniques) predict poor stroke outcome. In contrast to clinical expectations, the prognostic value of ADL-dependency and impaired cognition remains unclear, and factors in the domains of emotional and communicative functioning rarely feature. Studies using a selected group of stroke patients tended to identify different predictors. CONCLUSIONS: The current evidence is insufficient for the development of a clinical prediction tool that is better than physicians' informal predictions. Future research should focus on the selection of optimal screening instruments in multiple domains of functioning, including the timing of assessment. We suggest developing prediction tools stratified by more homogeneous, clinically distinguished stroke subtypes. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: A reliable prognosis soon after a stroke is highly relevant to patients who ultimately have a poor outcome, because it enables early planning of care tailored to their needs. In view of the development of a clinical prediction tool that is better than physicians' informal predictions, future research should focus on optimal screening instruments in multiple domains of functioning, including emotional and communicative functioning. Clinical prediction tools stratified by more homogeneous, clinically distinguished stroke subtypes, could enable more accurate prognosis in individual stroke patients.
Asunto(s)
Causas de Muerte , Rehabilitación de Accidente Cerebrovascular , Accidente Cerebrovascular/mortalidad , Adulto , Factores de Edad , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Estudios de Cohortes , Evaluación de la Discapacidad , Femenino , Evaluación Geriátrica , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Pronóstico , Medición de Riesgo , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Accidente Cerebrovascular/diagnóstico , Tasa de SupervivenciaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: In view of the development of an integrated care and treatment program for institutionalized stroke patients tailored to their needs, we aimed to explore their status of functioning in the physical, cognitive, emotional, communicative and social domains. In addition, we explored the relation between status of functioning and stroke characteristics. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, observational study. SETTING: Dutch nursing homes (NHs). PARTICIPANTS: Residents with stroke as main diagnosis for NH-admission, who experienced a stroke ≥3 months ago and stayed ≥1 month in a long term care ward. MEASUREMENTS: Attending physicians provided information about stroke subtype, stroke location and time post-stroke. Status of functioning was measured through an observation list comprising the Barthel Index, the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire, and sections of the Resident Assessment Instrument for Long-Term Care Facilities. The list was filled out in a structured interview with a qualified nurse assistant who knew the resident well. RESULTS: We included 274 residents (mean age 76.6, 58.4% female). The stroke that caused NH-dependency was in 81.3% ischemic, and in 49.8% right-sided. Median time post-stroke was 47 months; 90.9% of the residents were severely dependent in basic activities of daily living and 58% were in pain. Nearly half of the residents showed moderate (24.4%) or severe (23%) cognitive impairment. Irritability (52.9%), depressive symptoms (52.6%) and apathy (34.3%) occurred as the most frequent neuropsychiatric symptoms; 27.7% had a poor ability to express themselves and 30.3% had a low social engagement. We found more severe cognitive impairment, agitation/aggression and poor expression in left-sided strokes, more nighttime behavioral disturbances and delusions in right-sided strokes, and lower social engagement in residents with the largest time-interval post-stroke. CONCLUSION: This study among institutionalized stroke patients in Dutch NHs revealed very high prevalence of impairments on all domains of functioning, above the well-known severe disabilities in basic activities of daily living. The monitoring and management of both pain and neuropsychiatric symptoms should be key elements in an integrated care and treatment program.