Factors Related to Recurrent Falls Among Older Adults Attending Primary Health Care: A Biopsychosocial Perspective.

The objective of this study was to investigate factors related to recurrent falls among older adults attending primary health care, considering the biopsychosocial perspective. A representative sample of 201 older adults were interviewed in three Primary Health Care units randomly selected in a city in southeastern Brazil. Outcome included self-report of two or more falls in the past 12 months. Exposures included personal and environmental aspects, according to domains of International Classification of Functioning of the World Health Organization (ICF-WHO). Recurrent falls were reported by 24.4% of the participants. Associations with depressive symptoms (p = .003), having osteoporosis (p = .031), chronic musculoskeletal pain (p = .020), frailty (p = .013), sleep satisfaction (p < .001), and functional status (p < .001) were found. In logistic regression models, cognitive status, musculoskeletal pain, and functional status were predictors of recurrent falls; however, only sleep satisfaction remained significant in the final model. Strategies aimed at preventing recurrent falls in primary health care should consider assessments and interventions targeting sleep aspects among older adults.

Características da dor no joelho em idosos usuários da atenção primária à saúde, segundo aspectos sociodemográficos / Characteristics of knee pain among older adults users of primary health care, according to sociodemographic aspects

Dor no joelho é uma condição reconhecida pelo elevado impacto funcional na população idosa. O conhecimento sobre as características dessas demandas na Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) é escasso, o que dificulta o planejamento de linhas de cuidados destinadas ao manejo da dor nessa população. O objetivo foi investigar características da dor no joelho em idosos usuários da atenção primária à saúde, segundo aspectos sociodemográficos. Foi realizado estudo transversal com 201 idosos em três unidades de saúde selecionadas aleatoriamente. Dor no joelho foi classificada em crônica (>três meses) e aguda (

Knee pain is a condition recognized for its high functional impact in the older population. Knowledge about the characteristics of these demands in Primary Health Care (PHC) is scarce, which makes it difficult to plan lines of care aimed at pain management in this population. The objective of this study was to investigate characteristics of knee pain among older adults users of primary health care, according to sociodemographic aspects. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 201 older adults in three randomly selected health units. Knee pain was classified as chronic (>3 months) and acute (<3 months). The Analog Pain Scale was applied to assess the intensity, scored from 0 to 10, and questions about the impact of pain on daily life and demand for health services. Gender, age, presence of a partner, and education were recorded. Chronic knee pain was reported by 39.8% of participants; 24.9% reported functional impact and 23.9% sought a health service. Presence of pain (p=0.021) and functional impact (p=0.016) were more frequent among those who did not have a partner and the search for health services was more frequent among those with higher education. Acute knee pain was reported by 37.8% of participants, mean pain intensity was 2.4 (SD:3.6), and was associated with higher education and not having a partner. The demand for care for older adults with knee pain in PHC is high and is characterized as being functionally impactful and stimulating the demand for health services, in addition to being unequal in terms of education and the presence of a partner.

Recommendations for the Establishment of Stroke Systems of Care: A 2019 Update.

In 2005, the American Stroke Association published recommendations for the establishment of stroke systems of care and in 2013 expanded on them with a statement on interactions within stroke systems of care. The aim of this policy statement is to provide a comprehensive review of the scientific evidence evaluating stroke systems of care to date and to update the American Stroke Association recommendations on the basis of improvements in stroke systems of care. Over the past decade, stroke systems of care have seen vast improvements in endovascular therapy, neurocritical care, and stroke center certification, in addition to the advent of innovations, such as telestroke and mobile stroke units, in the context of significant changes in the organization of healthcare policy in the United States. This statement provides an update to prior publications to help guide policymakers and public healthcare agencies in continually updating their stroke systems of care in light of these changes. This statement and its recommendations span primordial and primary prevention, acute stroke recognition and activation of emergency medical services, triage to appropriate facilities, designation of and treatment at stroke centers, secondary prevention at hospital discharge, and rehabilitation and recovery.

Association Between Anxiety, Depression, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Outcomes After Ischemic Stroke.

Background: Stroke patients are known to be at risk of developing anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Objective: To determine the overlap between anxiety, depression, and PTSD in patients after stroke and to determine the association between these disorders and quality of life, functional status, healthcare utilization, and return to work. Methods: A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted to assess for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and health-related outcomes 6-12 months after first ischemic stroke in patients without prior psychiatric disease at a single stroke center. Results: Of 352 eligible subjects, 55 (16%) completed surveys. Seven subjects (13%) met criteria for probable anxiety, 6 (11%) for PTSD, and 11 for depression (20%). Of the 13 subjects (24%) who met criteria for any of these disorders, 6 (46%) met criteria for more than one, and 5 (39%) met criteria for all three. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics, including stroke severity or neurologic symptoms, between those with or without any of these disorders. Those who had any of these disorders were less likely to be independent in their activities of daily living (ADLs) (54 vs. 95%, p < 0.001) and reported significantly worse quality of life (score of 0-100, median score of 50 vs. 80, p < 0.001) compared to those with none of these disorders. Conclusions: Anxiety, depression, and PTSD are common after stroke, have a high degree of co-occurrence, and are associated with worse outcomes, including quality of life and functional status.

Modified National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale can be estimated from medical records.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The 15-item National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is a quantitative measure of stroke-related neurological deficit with established reliability and validity for use in clinical research. An abridged 11-item modified NIHSS (mNIHSS) has been described that simplifies or eliminates redundant and less reliable items. We aimed to determine whether the mNIHSS could be accurately abstracted from medical records to facilitate retrospective research. METHODS: We selected 39 patient records for which NIHSS scores were formally measured. Handwritten notes from medical records were abstracted, and NIHSS item scores were estimated by 5 raters blinded to actual scores. Estimated scores were compared among raters and with actual measured scores. RESULTS: Interrater reliability for total NIHSS on admission and discharge was excellent, with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) of 0.85 and 0.79, respectively. However, ICCs for 2 items (facial palsy and dysarthria) were poor (<0.40). Interrater reliability for total mNIHSS was slightly greater, with ICCs of 0.87 and 0.89 on admission and discharge, respectively. None of the 11 mNIHSS items had poor reliability, 4 were moderate (ICC, 0.40 to 0.75), and 7 were excellent (ICC >0.75). Sixty-two percent of estimated total NIHSS scores were within 2 points of actual scores and 91% were within 5 points, whereas 70% of estimated total mNIHSS scores were within 2 points and 95% were within 5 points. CONCLUSIONS: The mNIHSS can be estimated from medical records with a high degree of reliability and validity. In retrospective assessment of stroke severity, the mNIHSS performs better than the standard NIHSS and may be easier to use because it has fewer and simpler items.

Utility of the NIH Stroke Scale as a predictor of hospital disposition.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Early identification of stroke patients in need of rehabilitation or long-term nursing facility (NF) care may promote more efficient use of health care resources and lead to better outcomes. The NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is an attractive candidate predictor of disposition because it is widely used, is easily learned, and can be performed rapidly on admission. METHODS: We present a retrospective study of stroke patients admitted within 24 hours of symptom onset to a university hospital from March through June 2000. Medical records were reviewed for demographic information, stroke type, prestroke living arrangement and independence, initial NIHSS, and medical complications during hospitalization. RESULTS: Among 94 patients evaluated during the study period, 59% were discharged home, 30% to rehabilitation, and 11% to NF. In multivariate analyses, disposition was associated only with initial NIHSS. For each 1-point increase in NIHSS, the likelihood of going home was significantly reduced (odds ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.70 to 0.89, P<0.001). Categorization of NIHSS was also predictive of disposition, with NIHSS < or =5 being most strongly associated with discharge home, NIHSS 6 to 13 with rehabilitation, and NIHSS >13 with NF (P<0.001). Although no other baseline characteristics predicted disposition, major medical complications during hospitalization tended to reduce the odds of going home (odds ratio, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.08 to 1.0, P=0.07). CONCLUSION: The NIHSS predicts postacute care disposition among stroke patients. Predicting disposition on the first day of admission may facilitate the time-consuming and costly process of securing a bed at rehabilitation or NF, and perhaps decrease unnecessary length of stay in acute care settings.