A proof of concept for continuous, non-invasive, free-living vital signs monitoring to predict readmission following an acute exacerbation of COPD: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The use of vital signs monitoring in the early recognition of an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) post-hospital discharge is limited. This study investigated whether continuous vital signs monitoring could predict an AECOPD and readmission. METHODS: 35 people were recruited at discharge following hospitalisation for an AECOPD. Participants were asked to wear an Equivital LifeMonitor during waking hours for 6 weeks and to complete the Exacerbations of Chronic Pulmonary Disease Tool (EXACT), a 14-item symptom diary, daily. The Equivital LifeMonitor recorded respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), skin temperature (ST) and physical activity (PA) every 15-s. An AECOPD was classified as mild (by EXACT score), moderate (prescribed oral steroids/antibiotics) or severe (hospitalisation). RESULTS: Over the 6-week period, 31 participants provided vital signs and symptom data and 14 participants experienced an exacerbation, of which, 11 had sufficient data to predict an AECOPD. HR and PA were associated with EXACT score (p < 0.001). Three days prior to an exacerbation, RR increased by mean ± SD 2.0 ± 0.2 breaths/min for seven out of 11 exacerbations and HR increased by 8.1 ± 0.7 bpm for nine of these 11 exacerbations. CONCLUSIONS: Increased heart rate and reduced physical activity were associated with worsening symptoms. Even with high-resolution data, the variation in vital signs data remains a challenge for predicting AECOPDs. Respiratory rate and heart rate should be further explored as potential predictors of an impending AECOPD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN registry; ISRCTN12855961. Registered 07 November 2018-Retrospectively registered, https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN12855961.

The Impact of a Baseline Exercise Test on Confidence to Perform Subsequent Incremental Shuttle Walk Tests, Walk at Home, and Manage Breathlessness.

PURPOSE: Incremental shuttle walk tests (ISWTs) are routinely conducted as outcome measures in pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) assessments and in clinical trials; however, there is a paucity of data describing the impact of simply conducting an exercise test and the change produced in the perceived ability of the individual to perform exercise subsequently, which may in turn influence therapy and study outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational cohort study at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK (University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust). At initial PR assessment, we asked patients pre- and post-practice ISWT to report confidence in three areas (walking at home [Q1], managing breathlessness [Q2], and performing an ISWT [Q3]) based on a visual analog scale (0-10). RESULTS: A total of 100 patients with chronic respiratory disease (age 68.0 ± 10.3 yr, male 49%, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 63%, Medical Research Council 2-5) completed visual analog scale confidence questions pre- and post-practice ISWT. Confidence in all questions improved after a practice ISWT (all P < .01 Wilcoxon signed rank). A statistically significant improvement in ISWT distance was noted (practice ISWT 207.3 ± 132.7 m to second ISWT 227.4 ± 142.0 m, mean difference = 20.1 m). No association was found between changes in confidence and changes between walk 1 and walk 2 (r2 = [Q1] -0.04, [Q2] -0.09, [Q3] 0.04, P >.05). CONCLUSIONS: Confidence increased in all areas post-practice ISWT, but this was not related to changes in performance. However, this change may be an important consideration when designing research trials as exercise behaviors (eg, walking at home) may be affected by conducting baseline exercise tests.

Cognitive function following pulmonary rehabilitation and post-discharge recovery from exacerbation in people with COPD.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment (CI) is prevalent in COPD and is associated with poor health-related quality of life. Recovery of cognition following an acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD), the impact of CI on pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) uptake and the effect of PR on CI are not fully understood. METHODS: This 6-week prospective study analysed 67 people with stable COPD symptoms who completed PR (PR group) and the recovery of 45 people admitted for AECOPD (AECOPD group). All participants were assessed for cognitive function (Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA]), health status (COPD Assessment Test, Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire), lower extremity function (Short Physical Performance Battery), and psychological well-being (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score). Follow up assessments were carried out after a 6-week recovery post-discharge in AECOPD group and after PR in the PR group. RESULTS: AECOPD group showed no improvement in MoCA following a 6-week recovery post-discharge (Δ-0.8 ± 3.2, p = 0.205), despite improvements in all other clinical outcomes. PR uptake among the AECOPD group was not associated with the presence of CI (p = 0.325). Participants in the PR group with CI at baseline showed a significant improvement in MoCA score following PR (Δ1.6 ± 2.4, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Cognition does not improve following 6-week recovery post-AECOPD, and CI may influence patients' response to PR referral as an inpatient. PR improves cognition in people with stable COPD symptoms and CI. People with AECOPD should be actively encouraged to attend PR irrespective of mild-moderate cognition but may require additional support or opportunities to take part.

Changes in physical activity during hospital admission for chronic respiratory disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Establishing the amount of inpatient physical activity (PA) undertaken by individuals hospitalized for chronic respiratory disease is needed to inform interventions. This observational study investigated whether PA changes when a person is an inpatient, how long is required to obtain representative PA measures and whether PA varies within a day and between patients of differing lengths of stay. METHODS: A total of 389 participants were recruited as early as possible into their hospitalization. Patients wore a PA monitor from recruitment until discharge. Step count was extracted for a range of wear time criteria. Single-day intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated, with an ICC ≥ 0.80 deemed acceptable. RESULTS: PA data were available for 259 participants. No changes in daily step count were observed during the inpatient stay (586 (95% CI: 427-744) vs 652 (95% CI: 493-812) steps/day for day 2 and 7, respectively). ICC across all wear time criteria were > 0.80. The most stringent wear time criterion, retaining 80% of the sample, was ≥11 h on ≥1 day. More steps were taken during the morning and afternoon than overnight and evening. After controlling for the Medical Research Council (MRC) grade or oxygen use, there was no difference in step count between patients admitted for 2-3 days (short stay) and those admitted for 7-14 days (long stay). CONCLUSION: Patients move little during their hospitalization, and inpatient PA did not increase during their stay. A wear time criterion of 11 waking hours on any single day was representative of the entire admission whilst retaining an acceptable proportion of the initial sample size. Patients may need encouragement to move more during their hospital stay.

Experiences of patients undergoing pulmonary rehabilitation during an exacerbation of chronic respiratory disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized in the later stages by acute exacerbations that often require hospitalization. Pulmonary rehabilitation is recommended for patients with COPD to aid symptom control, improve quality of life and increase physical activity. We have previously reported a large intervention trial commenced during a hospital admission. The aim of this sub-study was to evaluate the patients' experiences of discharge following the hospitalization for an acute exacerbation of COPD. During a programme of early rehabilitation (ER) patient perceptions, experiences and healthcare use were collated during the month that followed their discharge. ER (started during their admission) was comprised of exercise training techniques that were modified to suit the environment of acute illness, together with an education and self-management programme. Each patient was then supported on the programme by telephone contact, following their discharge home, at 48 hours, 2 weeks and 4 weeks. We collected information in relation to the walking and exercise progression; we monitored patient recall of healthcare use, compliance/understanding of medical therapy, as well as their wider perceptions that may have influenced the recovery process. Healthcare use was captured using GP records and data analysis. Of the 100 patients, 47 males, (mean (standard deviation)) 71 (9.3) years, FEV1 1.14 L (0.6), BMI 26.6 (6.9), pack smoked years 45.8 (29.6), ethnicity White British 97%, were discharged home following an acute exacerbation of their respiratory symptoms, to an ER programme. At 48 hours following discharge, a minority (20%) of patients stated their symptoms were 'feeling better'; 15% highlighted that they found the prescribed 'exercise difficult'; 44% of patients felt at the end of the month that prescribed exercise programme had a 'positive effect' on their recovery from their exacerbation; 38% of patients felt their family had a positive effect on their recovery; 11% felt their family hindered. Patients reported a mean confidence score of 8.21 (2.1) for exercise that did not vary over the three contacts ( p = 0.166). A similar mean confidence score of 7.76 (2.6) was reported for walking with a non-statistical change also noted ( p = 0.223). When patient recall of primary health care contact was compared with actual use, there was statistical significance shown ( p = 0.002); patients underestimated the amount of care they received. The data indicate that patients do recover at home within the support of an early intervention. Patients are positive about the benefit of ER in the process of recovery; however, this is uncontrolled data.

Bedside assessment of quadriceps muscle by ultrasound after admission for acute exacerbations of chronic respiratory disease.

RATIONALE: Hospitalization represents a major event for the patient with chronic respiratory disease. There is a high risk of readmission, which over the longer term may be related more closely to the underlying condition of the patient, such as skeletal muscle dysfunction. OBJECTIVES: We assessed the risk of hospital readmission at 1 year, including measures of lower limb muscle as part of a larger clinical trial. METHODS: Patients hospitalized with an exacerbation of chronic respiratory disease underwent measures of muscle function including quadriceps ultrasound. Independent factors influencing time to hospital readmission or death were identified. Patients were classified into four quartiles based on quadriceps size and compared. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-one patients (mean age, 71.6 [SD, 9.1] yr) were recruited. One hundred and thirty (68%) were either readmitted or died. Factors associated with readmission or death were age (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.08; P = 0.015), Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnea grade (OR, 4.57; 95% CI, 2.62-7.95; P < 0.001), home oxygen use (OR, 12.4; 95% CI, 4.53-33.77; P < 0.001), quadriceps (rectus femoris) cross-sectional area (Qcsa) (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.17-0.65; P = 0.001), and hospitalization in the previous year (OR, 4.82; 95% CI, 2.42-9.58; P < 0.001). In the multivariate analyses, home oxygen use (OR, 4.80; 95% CI, 1.68-13.69; P = 0.003), MRC dyspnea grade (OR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.44-4.59; P = 0.001), Qcsa (OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.22-0.95; P = 0.035), and previous hospitalization (OR, 3.04; 95% CI, 1.47-6.29; P = 0.003) were independently associated with readmission or death. Patients with the smallest muscle spent more days in hospital than those with largest muscle (28.1 [SD, 33.9] vs. 12.2 [SD, 23.5] d; P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Smaller quadriceps muscle size, as measured by ultrasound in the acute care setting, is an independent risk factor for unscheduled readmission or death, which may have value both in clinical practice and for risk stratification.

An early rehabilitation intervention to enhance recovery during hospital admission for an exacerbation of chronic respiratory disease: randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether an early rehabilitation intervention initiated during acute admission for exacerbations of chronic respiratory disease reduces the risk of readmission over 12 months and ameliorates the negative effects of the episode on physical performance and health status. DESIGN: Prospective, randomised controlled trial. SETTING: An acute cardiorespiratory unit in a teaching hospital and an acute medical unit in an affiliated teaching district general hospital, United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS: 389 patients aged between 45 and 93 who within 48 hours of admission to hospital with an exacerbation of chronic respiratory disease were randomised to an early rehabilitation intervention (n=196) or to usual care (n=193). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was readmission rate at 12 months. Secondary outcomes included number of hospital days, mortality, physical performance, and health status. The primary analysis was by intention to treat, with prespecified per protocol analysis as a secondary outcome. INTERVENTIONS: Participants in the early rehabilitation group received a six week intervention, started within 48 hours of admission. The intervention comprised prescribed, progressive aerobic, resistance, and neuromuscular electrical stimulation training. Patients also received a self management and education package. RESULTS: Of the 389 participants, 320 (82%) had a primary diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 233 (60%) were readmitted at least once in the following year (62% in the intervention group and 58% in the control group). No significant difference between groups was found (hazard ratio 1.1, 95% confidence interval 0.86 to 1.43, P=0.4). An increase in mortality was seen in the intervention group at one year (odds ratio 1.74, 95% confidence interval 1.05 to 2.88, P=0.03). Significant recovery in physical performance and health status was seen after discharge in both groups, with no significant difference between groups at one year. CONCLUSION: Early rehabilitation during hospital admission for chronic respiratory disease did not reduce the risk of subsequent readmission or enhance recovery of physical function following the event over 12 months. Mortality at 12 months was higher in the intervention group. The results suggest that beyond current standard physiotherapy practice, progressive exercise rehabilitation should not be started during the early stages of the acute illness.Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN05557928.