Validez y confiabilidad de las escalas de evaluación funcional en pacientes críticamente enfermos. Revisión sistemática / Validity of scales for the functional assessment of critically ill patients

The decrease in mortality in critical patient units led to an increase in intensive care unit acquired weakness (ICUAW), which significantly affects the functional performance and quality of life of patients. There are several scales that measure functionality in critical patients. The aim of this systematic review is to determine the criterion validity and reliability of the scales that evaluate functionality in critically ill adult patients. We considered studies in critically ill adult subjects of both genders that determined the psychometric properties of the scales that evaluate functionality. Six minutes' walk test (6MWT), timed up and go (TUG), the Medical Research Council sum score (MRC-SS), grip strength, discharge destination and need for rehabilitation at discharge were considered as gold standards. Three scales were identified: PFIT-s, Perme MS, and DEMMI. PFIT-s has a positive correlation with 6MWT, MRC-SS and grip strength, and a negative correlation with TUG. It also predicts the need for rehabilitation at discharge and discharge to the home. DEMMI has a positive correlation with MRC-SS. the interobserver reliability was evaluated in three articles, demonstrating an almost perfect association. The intraobserver agreement was considered good in one report. With this information, it is not possible to determine which is the instrument with better measurement properties.

Efecto del entrenamiento de músculos abdominales sobre la función respiratoria en adolescentes sanos: Estudio piloto / Effect of abdominal muscle training on respiratory function in healthy adolescents: A preliminar study

The respiratory muscle training has been used to improve muscle strength and optimize the mechanism of cough. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of abdominal muscle training on respiratory muscle strength (MIP, MEP), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and peak cough flow (PCF) in healthy adolescents. The study design was quasi-experimental, variables of respiratory function were assessed before and after the muscle training protocol in a sample of sedentary healthy adolescents without gender restriction. The sample size calculated was 15 subjects. The training protocol consisted in 8 weeks of training divided into two stages (basic and advanced training plan) twice a week. Descriptive statistics were performed, tests for normality (Shapiro Wilk), U Mann Whitney test, Pearson coefficient and t-student test were used. Results are expressed as mean and its standard deviation. It was considered significant a p value < 0,05. Seventeen subjects (8 males and 9 females) entered to the study, all subjects performed the protocol and completed it without incidents. After completing the training protocol the sit-up test performance increased 21.7% (p = 0.0001), the MIP increase 16,5 cm H2O (17.1%) (p = 0.006), MEP increased 34.9 cm H2O (50,2 %) (p = 0.0001). Moreover, PEF increased 35.3 L/min (8.3%) (p = 0.003) and PCF increased 36.6 L/min (9,1%). There was no correlation between sit-up test performance and lung function variables. PEF showed only a moderate correlation with PCF (r = 0.6; p = 0.007) and MEP (r = 0.59; p = 0.01). We conclude that, in this sample, increases in respiratory muscle strength, PEF and PCF were observed after abdominal muscle training. No association between abdominal muscle strength and respiratory function variables was found before initiating the training protocol.

El entrenamiento muscular respiratorio ha sido utilizado para mejorar la fuerza de los músculos y optimizar el mecanismo de la tos. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar el efecto del entrenamiento de músculos abdominales sobre la fuerza de los músculos respiratorios (Pimax, Pemax), flujo espiratorio máximo (FEM) y flujo máximo de tos (FMT) en adolescentes sanos. Este estudio es cuasi experimental, donde se evaluaron las variables de función respiratoria antes y después del protocolo de entrenamiento. La muestra estuvo integrada por adolescentes sanos sedentarios sin restricción de sexo. La muestra mínima estimada fue de 15 sujetos. El protocolo de entrenamiento consistió en 8 semanas de entrenamiento dividido en 2 etapas (plan básico y avanzado de ejercicios) dos veces por semana. Se realizó estadística descriptiva, pruebas de normalidad (Shapiro Wilk); se utilizó test U de Mann Whitney, coeficiente de correlación de Pearson y test t-student para muestras pareadas. Los resultados se expresan en promedios y desviación estándar. Se consideró significativo un valor de p < 0,05. Ingresaron al estudio 17 sujetos (8 hombres y 9 mujeres), todos los sujetos realizaron el protocolo completo. Posterior al protocolo los sujetos incrementaron en 21,7% el rendimiento del sit-up test (p=0,0001); la Pimax aumentó 16,5 cm H2O (+17,1%) (p=0.006), la Pemax aumentó 34,9 cm H2O (+50,2%) (p=0,0001). Por otra parte, el FEM aumentó 35,3 L/min (+8,3%) (p=0,003) y el FMT aumentó 36,6 L/min (+9,1%). La fuerza de músculos abdominales no muestra correlación con las variables de función respiratoria. Sólo FEM muestra correlación moderada con el FMT (r = 0,6; p = 0,007) y Pemax (r = 0,59; p = 0,01). Se concluye que, en la muestra estudiada, se observan incrementos en la fuerza muscular respiratoria, FEM y FMT luego de un protocolo de entrenamiento de músculos abdominales. No se observó asociación entre la fuerza muscular abdominal y las variables de función respiratoria antes de iniciado el protocolo.