Debilidad neuromuscular del paciente crítico post covid-19: resultados de recuperación funcional en dos centros de tercer nivel / Neuromuscular weakness in the critically post COVID-19 patient: functional recovery results in two third-level Centers

Resumen Introducción : La efectividad de las terapias de reha bilitación física sobre los pacientes que requirieron ven tilación mecánica prolongada y egresaron de Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) con debilidad neuromuscular post COVID-19 se conoce principalmente en el perio do agudo. El objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar la recuperación funcional en personas con debilidad neuromuscular post UCI por COVID-19 admitidas a rehabilitación. Métodos : Estudio retrospectivo que incluyó a 42 pa cientes con debilidad neuromuscular post COVID-19, de dos centros de rehabilitación de tercer nivel, desde abril de 2020 hasta abril de 2022. Resultados : Encontramos diferencias estadísticamen te significativas entre las valoraciones funcionales de ingreso y alta. La Medida de Independencia Funcional (FIM) mejoró de 49 [41-57] a 107 [94-119] (p < 0.001). La escala de Berg de 4 [1-6] a 47 [36-54] (p < 0.001), el test de 6 minutos de 0 [0-0] a 254 [167-400] (p < 0.001), y el test de 10 metros de 0 [0-0] a 0.83 [0.4-1.2] (p < 0.001). No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre la puntuación total al ingreso y al alta de las evaluaciones funcionales con la edad y la complejidad respiratoria. Discusión : El tratamiento para la recuperación fun cional en un centro de tercer nivel y larga duración, sería beneficioso para personas con grave debilidad neuromuscular post UCI a causa del COVID-19, a pesar que el 43% no alcanzó el nivel de movilidad previo. La edad y la complejidad respiratoria son variables que no impactaron en la recuperación final.

Abstract Introduction : The effectiveness of physical rehabi litation therapies on patients who required prolonged mechanical ventilation and were discharged from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with post-COVID-19 neuro muscular weakness is known in the acute period. The objective of this study was to characterize the functional recovery in people hospitalized with post-ICU neuro muscular weakness due to COVID-19 admitted to rehab. Methods : Retrospective study which included 42 patients with post-COVID-19 neuromuscular weakness, who were admitted to two tertiary care rehabilitation centers, from April 2020 to April 2022. Results : We found statistically significant differen ces between the functional evaluations of admission and discharge. The Functional Independence Measure improved from 49 [41-57] a 107 [94-119] (p < 0.001). The Berg scale from 4 [1-6] a 47 [36-54] (p < 0.001), the 6-mi nute test from 0 [0-0] a 254 [167-400] (p < 0.001), and 421 the 10-meter test from 0 [0-0] a 0.83 [0.4-1.2] (p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences bet ween the admission and discharge total score of the functional assessments with age and respiratory com plexity. Discussion : Treatment for functional recovery in a tertiary and long-term center is beneficial for people with severe post-ICU neuromuscular weakness due to COVID-19, even though 43% did not reach the previous level of mobility. Age and respiratory complexity are variables that did not impact the final recovery.

[Neuromuscular weakness in the critically post COVID-19 patient: functional recovery results in two third-level centers]. / Debilidad neuromuscular del paciente crítico post COVID-19: resultados de recuperación funcional en dos centros de tercer nivel.

INTRODUCTION: The effectiveness of physical rehabilitation therapies on patients who required prolonged mechanical ventilation and were discharged from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with post-COVID-19 neuromuscular weakness is known in the acute period. The objective of this study was to characterize the functional recovery in people hospitalized with post-ICU neuromuscular weakness due to COVID-19 admitted to rehab. METHODS: Retrospective study which included 42 patients with post-COVID-19 neuromuscular weakness, who were admitted to two tertiary care rehabilitation centers, from April 2020 to April 2022. RESULTS: We found statistically significant differences between the functional evaluations of admission and discharge. The Functional Independence Measure improved from 49 [41-57] a 107 [94-119] (p < 0.001). The Berg scale from 4 [1-6] a 47 [36-54] (p < 0.001), the 6-minute test from 0 [0-0] a 254 [167-400] (p < 0.001), and the 10-meter test from 0 [0-0] a 0.83 [0.4-1.2] (p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences between the admission and discharge total score of the functional assessments with age and respiratory complexity. DISCUSSION: Treatment for functional recovery in a tertiary and long-term center is beneficial for people with severe post-ICU neuromuscular weakness due to COVID-19, even though 43% did not reach the previous level of mobility. Age and respiratory complexity are variables that did not impact the final recovery.

Introducción: La efectividad de las terapias de rehabilitación física sobre los pacientes que requirieron ventilación mecánica prolongada y egresaron de Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) con debilidad neuromuscular post COVID-19 se conoce principalmente en el periodo agudo. El objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar la recuperación funcional en personas con debilidad neuromuscular post UCI por COVID-19 admitidas a rehabilitación. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo que incluyó a 42 pacientes con debilidad neuromuscular post COVID-19, de dos centros de rehabilitación de tercer nivel, desde abril de 2020 hasta abril de 2022. Resultados: Encontramos diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre las valoraciones funcionales de ingreso y alta. La Medida de Independencia Funcional (FIM) mejoró de 49 [41-57] a 107 [94-119] (p < 0.001). La escala de Berg de 4 [1-6] a 47 [36-54] (p < 0.001), el test de 6 minutos de 0 [0-0] a 254 [167-400] (p < 0.001), y el test de 10 metros de 0 [0-0] a 0.83 [0.4-1.2] (p < 0.001). No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre la puntuación total al ingreso y al alta de las evaluaciones funcionales con la edad y la complejidad respiratoria. Discusión: El tratamiento para la recuperación funcional en un centro de tercer nivel y larga duración, sería beneficioso para personas con grave debilidad neuromuscular post UCI a causa del COVID-19, a pesar que el 43% no alcanzó el nivel de movilidad previo. La edad y la complejidad respiratoria son variables que no impactaron en la recuperación final.

[Participation in the community after the rehabilitation: multi-center study in Argentina] / Participación en la comunidad en personas con patologías neurológicas luego de la rehabilitación: estudio multicéntrico en Argentina

Introduction: Introduction: Participation is the dynamic and complex interaction between the individual's health condition, bodily functions, activities that can be carried out and environmental factors. Measuring it helps to understand the impact of disability. Objectives: Describe the activities and participation in subjects with neurological pathologies, discharged from hospitalization for rehabilitation. Secondly, to compare the clinical-demographic characteristics and the participation among wheelchair users with respect to non-users. Material and method: Observational, prospective, cross-sectional, multicenter study. Based on a survey of people over 18 years of age with pathologies of neurological origin discharged from rehabilitation from 6 centers in Argentina. Results: 282 people responded, 69% men with an average age of 50 years and discharged 22 months ago. The most common diagnosis was cerebrovascular accident. The self-perception of participation was 49 out of 90, and those who do not use a wheelchair report a higher level of participation. The greatest satisfaction was in areas of interpersonal relationships. 50% require assistance to use transportation in the community. 61% neither work nor study, nor do they engage in sports activities (65%). 61% of wheelchair users cannot go to places in the community because they are inaccessible. Conclusion: Less participation in community activities was observed, mainly due to architectural barriers and difficulties in using transport in wheelchair users. The family occupies a central place so that they can integrate into the community.

Introducción: La participación es la interacción dinámica y compleja entre la condición de salud del individuo, las funciones corporales, las actividades que puede realizar y los factores ambientales. Medirla ayuda a comprender el impacto de la discapacidad. Objetivos: Describir las actividades y participación en sujetos con patologías neurológicas, dados de alta de internación para rehabilitación. Secundariamente comparar las características clínico-demográficas y la participación entre usuarios de silla de ruedas respecto a personas no usuarias. Material y método: Estudio observacional, prospectivo, transversal, multicéntrico. Basado en una encuesta a mayores de 18 años con patologías de origen neurológico dados de alta de rehabilitacion de 6 centros de Argentina. Resultados: Respondieron 282 personas, 69% hombres con una media de edad de 50 años y dados de alta hace 22 meses. El diagnóstico más frecuente fue el accidente cerebrovascular. La autopercepción de la participación fue de 49 sobre 90, y los que no utilizan silla de ruedas refieren mayor nivel de participación. La mayor satisfacción fue en áreas de relaciones interpersonales. El 50% requiere de asistencia para utilizar los transportes en la comunidad. El 61% no trabaja ni estudia, así como tampoco realizan actividades deportivas (65%). Al 61% de los usuarios de silla de ruedas no pueden ir a lugares de la comunidad por ser inaccesibles. Conclusión: Se observó menor participación en actividades comunitarias, principalmente por barreras arquitectónicas y por dificultades para usar el transporte en usuarios de silla de ruedas. La familia ocupa un lugar central para que puedan integrarse en la comunidad.

Driving and Alzheimer's disease: A neuropsychological screening battery for the elderly.

As life expectancy increases, there is a marked increase in the elderly population eager to continue driving. A large proportion of these elderly drive safely, however, patients with mild dementia are high-risk drivers. OBJECTIVE: to identify the cognitive tests that best predict driving ability in subjects with mild dementia. METHODS: 28 drivers with mild dementia and 28 healthy elderly subjects underwent an extensive cognitive assessment (NACC Uniform Data Set Neuropsychological Battery), completed an adapted On Road Driving Test (ORDT) and a Driving Simulator assessment. RESULTS: drivers with mild dementia made more mistakes on the ORDT and had slower responses in the simulator tasks. Cognitive tests correlated strongly with on road and simulator driving performance. Age, the Digit Symbol Modalities Test and Boston Naming Test scores were the variables that best predicted performance on the ORDT and were included in a logistic regression model. CONCLUSION: the strong correlation between driving performance and performance on specific cognitive tests supports the importance of cognitive assessment as a useful tool for deciding whether patients with mild dementia can drive safely. The algorithm including these three variables could be used as a screening tool for the detection of unsafe driving in elderly subjects with cognitive decline.

À medida que aumenta a expectativa de vida, há um crescimento notável da população idosa ansiosa por continuar dirigindo. Uma grande proporção deles dirige com segurança, mas, pacientes com demência leve são condutores de alto risco. OBJETIVO: identificar os testes cognitivos que melhor predizem a capacidade de dirigir em indivíduos com demência leve. MÉTODOS: 28 motoristas com demência leve e 28 idosos saudáveis foram submetidos a uma extensa avaliação cognitiva (Bateria Neuropsicológica de Conjunto de Dados Uniformes NACC), completaram um teste de condução real adaptado (TCRA) e uma avaliação do Simulador de Condução. RESULTADOS: motoristas com demência leve cometeram mais erros no TCRA e tiveram respostas mais lentas nas tarefas do simulador. Os testes cognitivos correlacionaram-se fortemente com a condução na estrada e no simulador. A idade, o Teste de Modalidades do Símbolo Digit e o Teste de Nomeação de Boston foram as variáveis que melhor predisseram o desempenho no ORDT e foram incluídos em um modelo de regressão logística. CONCLUSÃO: a forte correlação entre o desempenho na direção e os testes cognitivos específicos apoia a importância da avaliação cognitiva como uma ferramenta útil para decidir se os pacientes com demência leve podem dirigir com segurança. O algoritmo que inclui essas três variáveis poderia ser usado como uma ferramenta de triagem para a detecção de condução de risco em idosos com declínio cognitivo.

Driving and Alzheimer's disease: A neuropsychological screening battery for the elderly / Condução e doença de alzheimer: uma bateria de triagem neuropsicológica para idosos

ABSTRACT As life expectancy increases, there is a marked increase in the elderly population eager to continue driving. A large proportion of these elderly drive safely, however, patients with mild dementia are high-risk drivers. Objective: to identify the cognitive tests that best predict driving ability in subjects with mild dementia. Methods: 28 drivers with mild dementia and 28 healthy elderly subjects underwent an extensive cognitive assessment (NACC Uniform Data Set Neuropsychological Battery), completed an adapted On Road Driving Test (ORDT) and a Driving Simulator assessment. Results: drivers with mild dementia made more mistakes on the ORDT and had slower responses in the simulator tasks. Cognitive tests correlated strongly with on road and simulator driving performance. Age, the Digit Symbol Modalities Test and Boston Naming Test scores were the variables that best predicted performance on the ORDT and were included in a logistic regression model. Conclusion: the strong correlation between driving performance and performance on specific cognitive tests supports the importance of cognitive assessment as a useful tool for deciding whether patients with mild dementia can drive safely. The algorithm including these three variables could be used as a screening tool for the detection of unsafe driving in elderly subjects with cognitive decline.

RESUMO À medida que aumenta a expectativa de vida, há um crescimento notável da população idosa ansiosa por continuar dirigindo. Uma grande proporção deles dirige com segurança, mas, pacientes com demência leve são condutores de alto risco. Objetivo: identificar os testes cognitivos que melhor predizem a capacidade de dirigir em indivíduos com demência leve. Métodos: 28 motoristas com demência leve e 28 idosos saudáveis foram submetidos a uma extensa avaliação cognitiva (Bateria Neuropsicológica de Conjunto de Dados Uniformes NACC), completaram um teste de condução real adaptado (TCRA) e uma avaliação do Simulador de Condução. Resultados: motoristas com demência leve cometeram mais erros no TCRA e tiveram respostas mais lentas nas tarefas do simulador. Os testes cognitivos correlacionaram-se fortemente com a condução na estrada e no simulador. A idade, o Teste de Modalidades do Símbolo Digit e o Teste de Nomeação de Boston foram as variáveis que melhor predisseram o desempenho no ORDT e foram incluídos em um modelo de regressão logística. Conclusão: a forte correlação entre o desempenho na direção e os testes cognitivos específicos apoia a importância da avaliação cognitiva como uma ferramenta útil para decidir se os pacientes com demência leve podem dirigir com segurança. O algoritmo que inclui essas três variáveis poderia ser usado como uma ferramenta de triagem para a detecção de condução de risco em idosos com declínio cognitivo.

Continuous subcutaneous apomorphine for severe disorders of consciousness after traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of long-term severe disorders of consciousness due to traumatic brain injury is discouraging. There is little definitive evidence of the underlying mechanisms, but a deficiency of the dopaminergic system may be involved. METHODS: In a prospective open-labelled clinical study, the feasibility, relative efficacy and safety of continuous subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of apomorphine in Vegetative State (VS) or Minimally Conscious State (MCS) patients due to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) was tested. Apomorphine was administered to eight patients. Outcome measures were the Coma Near-Coma Scale (CNCS) and Disability Rating Scale (DRS). RESULTS: Drug management was implemented without any problems. There was improvement in the primary outcomes for all patients. Awakening was seen as rapidly as within the first 24 hours of drug administration and as late as 4 weeks. Seven of the patients had completely recovered consciousness. All improvements were sustained for at least 1 year, even after apomorphine was discontinued. Drug-related adverse events were all anticipated and resolved after the dose was reduced. CONCLUSION: Based on this open-label pilot study, continuous s.c. apomorphine infusion appears to be feasible, safe and potentially effective in improving consciousness in patients in VS and MCS due to severe TBI.

Fast awakening from minimally conscious state with apomorphine.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can induce long-term severe disorders of consciousness. Evidence suggests an underlying dopaminergic deficit. Dopamine agonists may therefore play an important role in recovery of consciousness. OBJECTIVE: To explore the response to continuous subcutaneous administration of apomorphine in a patient who had remained in minimally conscious state for 104 days and to evaluate the anatomical substrate of the effect. DESIGN: A prospective, open-label, daily treatment, dose-escalation single case clinical study, with retrospective diffusion tensor image (DTI) evaluation. RESULTS: On the fist day of treatment, the patient was able to move his limbs on command and answer yes/no questions which had not been the case prior to apomorphine administration. Subsequently there was a full recovery of consciousness and substantial functional recovery that was sustained even after apomorphine discontinuation. At the highest dose, mild dyskinesias were observed. These resolved with a lowering of the dose. DTI demonstrated a decrease of thalamocortical and corticothalamic projections in this MCS patient compared to normal volunteers. CONCLUSION: Although this is an open-label single-patient case report, the data are consistent with the theory that a dopaminergic deficit underlies MCS and that it may be overcome with apomorphine administration.